SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Jan. 16: The State health department has ordered a probe into the alleged forged bills of Rs 50.32 lakh, submitted by Nayan Sukh Netralay, empanelled for treatment claims under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
Sources in the State health department said that after getting the bills of Nayan Sukh Netralay ,Dhanbad, the Jharkhand Arogya Society in the initial screening found suspected large scale irregularities in the bill of the hospital. The society has directed Dhanbad civil surgeon (CS) Dr Alok Vishwakarma to conduct a proper inquiry of the bill.
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The said eye hospital has submitted a bill of Rs 50.32 lakh against cataract operations of 592 patients under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna in 2021-22 financial year. Under the scheme, the hospital is paid Rs 8500 for every cataract operation.
In Dhanbad, 36 private hospitals, including 24 posh nursing homes are empanelled with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna. They had in April 2022 stopped treatment of card holding patients in protest against pending due bills ( around Rs 12 crores) from December 2021.
Meanwhile, Civil surgeon Dr Vishwakarma has set up a three-member committee to probe the alleged fraud claims of the hospital.
Health department official sources said that the state Arogya Society while screening the bill of Nayan Sukh Netralaya found irregularities in the names of patients, their mobile numbers, timing of cataract operation, names of doctors who operated.
The hospital is said to have conducted cataract operations of 592 patients on the report of a diagnostic centre that has been closed for several years and is not registered with the health department.
