Health Scheme Scam Unveiled: ED Targets Hospitals in Rs. 25 Crore Fraud Operation.
02 August 2024
On July 31, 2024, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) carried out extensive searches at 20 locations across Delhi, Chandigarh, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh. The targets included several hospitals such as Shree Banke Bihari Hospital, Fortis Hospital Himachal Healthcare Private Limited, and others, along with their key personnel.
The investigation, prompted by a report from the State Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Bureau (SV & ACB) in Una, uncovered that these hospitals had exploited the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) scheme by using fake ID cards. The ED identified 373 fraudulent Ayushman Cards and discovered false claims totaling around Rs. 40.68 lakh.
Key findings included:
- Hospitals making claims for treatments that never occurred.
- Fraudulent blocking of funds for patients who were denied services.
- Several hospitals were removed from the AB-PMJAY scheme due to illegal practices.
During the searches, the ED found cash of approximately Rs. 88 lakh, four bank lockers, and 140 bank accounts. They also seized 16 digital devices containing data on suspicious transactions totaling Rs. 21 crore for about 23,000 patients. The case involves an estimated Rs. 25 crore in illicit proceeds.