The State Health Authority (SHA) has suspended the empanelment of three hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and related state health programs, citing serious violations of scheme norms and deficiencies in patient care. The action targets Arihant Hospital and Ogeasvi Hospital in Dehradun, along with Shri Ram Murti Smarak Institute of Medical Sciences (SRMS) in Bareilly.
Penalty Imposed on Baluni Hospital
In a separate action, the authority imposed a penalty of Rs 86,250 on Dehradun’s Baluni Hospital after inspectors discovered that money had allegedly been collected from a beneficiary through its in-house pharmacy. Although the amount was later refunded, SHA held the hospital accountable and imposed a penalty equivalent to five times the amount charged. The hospital has also been directed to improve its wheelchair-accessible ramp and upgrade ICU infrastructure within 15 days; failure to comply may result in suspension proceedings.
Reasons for Suspension of Arihant Hospital
According to Dr. Saroj Naithani, director (claims) for Ayushman Bharat, the suspension of Arihant Hospital stemmed from serious shortcomings in its dialysis unit. During an inspection, officials found the facility overcrowded. The hospital attributed this to ongoing construction work and the temporary placement of additional beds, but SHA rejected the explanation, noting that dialysis patients are particularly vulnerable to infections and cannot be treated in congested conditions. The authority also found that the hospital had declared its dialysis unit as an in-house facility at the time of empanelment, whereas the services were being operated by a third-party agency. Additional lapses were noted in infection-control and quality-assurance practices.
Ogeasvi Hospital's Violations
At Ogeasvi Hospital, SHA found that money had allegedly been collected from a beneficiary despite the scheme’s cashless treatment provisions. However, according to Naithani, a more serious concern was the hospital’s claim regarding the availability of resident medical officers (RMOs). “During verification, we could not establish the association of doctors listed as RMOs with the hospital, raising concerns about the availability of round-the-clock medical supervision for patients,” Naithani said.
Action Against SRMS, Bareilly
The action against SRMS, Bareilly, followed multiple complaints from beneficiaries from Uttarakhand, particularly the Kumaon region. Patients alleged that they were asked to make payments despite being entitled to cashless treatment and were repeatedly required to obtain fresh referral documents, causing delays and hardship, including in emergency situations.
SHA's Stance on Standards
Explaining the rationale behind the action, Naithani said deficiencies in facilities funded through public health schemes could not be overlooked. “We are spending substantial public funds on these hospitals. Standards have to be maintained. The issue is not whether patients have other options. The point is that every empanelled hospital must meet the prescribed standards,” she said.
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About the Author: Prashasti Singh, a Dehradun-based journalist focused on human-interest stories that link local issues to wider national conversations. She covers developments across genres, with a special interest in civic issues, education, and the environment.
