Gandhinagar: Over the past two years, the Gujarat government has suspended 49 hospitals empanelled under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) over various irregularities, the state informed the Legislative Assembly. Of these, 29 hospitals continue to remain barred from admitting patients under the scheme, while the suspension of 20 hospitals has since been revoked. Medical Dialogues had previously reported that, citing serious irregularities and violations of safety guidelines that endangered the lives of patients and newborns, the Gujarat Health and Family Welfare Department has suspended Deep Children Hospital and Neonatal Care in Godhra and Kashima Hospital in Bharuch. Both hospitals were empanelled under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).Also Read:PMJAY Irregularities: 2 private hospitals suspended, show-cause notices to 2 othersDuring the ongoing Budget session, Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said strict action is being taken against hospitals found violating PM-JAY rules and standard operating procedures (SOPs). He was responding to Congress MLA Amit Chavda, who raised concerns about alleged irregularities at JCCC Hospital in Jamnagar.The minister noted that JCCC Hospital was fined Rs 8.69 lakh for misusing government funds under the scheme. Additionally, one doctor at the hospital was suspended from performing operations under PM-JAY and reported to the Gujarat Medical Council.
The hospital was also suspended under the cardiology and cardiovascular thoracic surgery categories of PM-JAY for violating empanelment guidelines.
Pansheriya reiterated that the state government maintains strict monitoring mechanisms to prevent misuse of public funds under the flagship health insurance programme.
According to PTI, the minister stated that 2.73 crore Ayushman cards are currently active in Gujarat under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojanaa-Mukhyamantri Amrutam Yojana. He informed the House that more than 57 lakh new Ayushman cards have been approved in the last two years.
In 2024-25, 25.24 lakh new cards were approved, with claims worth Rs 3,666.53 crore sanctioned for 13.40 lakh treatments. In 2025-26, 31.78 lakh new cards have been approved so far, with claims valued at Rs 3,568.96 crore cleared for 14.15 lakh treatments. Overall, in the past two years, 27.55 lakh claims totalling Rs 7,235.49 crore have been settled.Also Read:21 Gujarat Hospitals Suspended from PMJAYSpeaking to TOI, sources in the state health department said that some of the irregularities for which the hospitals’ empanelment was suspended included inflating hospital bills, charging additional money for procedures, not meeting the infrastructure criteria, or admitting a patient under specific conditions, and other fraudulent means. It is notable that the issue of irregularities came under sharp focus after the deaths of two patients at Ahmedabad’s Khyati Hospital in Nov 2024. The two patients, along with others, were admitted under PM-JAY for cardiac procedures and were allegedly made to undergo unwarranted angioplasties.
