Doctors under the Indian Medical Association (IMA) staged a protest outside Swasthya Bhawan in Jaipur on Monday over alleged irregularities in the Rajasthan Govt Health Scheme (RGHS). They demanded the release of Dr. Sondev Bansal, who was arrested on April 12 for allegedly submitting forged documents under RGHS.
Protest Details
Healthcare workers and doctors participated in the demonstration, carrying banners and placards to highlight pending RGHS payments and what they described as serious flaws in the scheme. Following the protest, senior officials from the Rajasthan State Health Assurance Authority invited representatives of doctors' associations for talks. The delegation met Principal Secretary (Health) Gayatri Rathore and raised the issue of pending RGHS bills. They also urged the finance department to expedite action on unpaid dues.
Talks Yield Only Verbal Assurances
IMA state president Dr. Mahesh Sharma stated, “The talks resulted only in verbal assurances.” IMA secretary Dr. N.K. Agarwal added, “The boycott of RGHS would continue until written orders are issued and pending payments cleared.”
Structural Problems in RGHS
Dr. Agarwal emphasized that the dispute is not limited to unpaid claims but points to deeper structural problems within RGHS. These include the absence of standard operating procedures, no fixed timelines for claim settlement or responses to queries, unclear rules for termination or de-empanelment of hospitals, and a lack of an appeal mechanism. He noted that the system currently operates on discretionary powers rather than transparent rules.
IMA Rajasthan zonal secretary Dr. Anurag Sharma revealed that repeated discussions over the past eight to ten months had produced no concrete outcomes.
Demands for Justice and Intensified Agitation
Jaipur Medical Association secretary Dr. Anurag Tomar demanded immediate justice for Dr. Bansal and prompt action on all RGHS-related demands. He warned that doctors would intensify their agitation if timely steps are not taken.
