| Pacemaker Scam: Cardiologist suspended as probe finds procedures on healthy patients | | Doctor denies charges, says evidence has been submitted | | Early Times Report
Jammu, June 20: The Government on Saturday suspended a senior cardiologist posted at Government Medical College (GMC), Anantnag, pending the completion of a departmental inquiry into allegations of fraudulent insurance claims, unnecessary cardiac procedures, patient exploitation, and manipulation of medical records under the PMJAY-SEHAT health insurance scheme.
Dr. Syed Maqbool Ahmad Shah, Associate Professor of Cardiology currently deputed to GMC Anantnag, was placed under suspension through Order No. 504-JK (HME) of 2025 dated June 20, 2026, issued by the Health and Medical Education (HME) Department.
According to the order, Dr. Shah has been suspended with immediate effect under Rule 31 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956, and will remain attached to the office of Government Medical College, Jammu, during the suspension period.
The action follows the initiation of a departmental inquiry into what authorities alleged as large-scale procedural irregularities, fraudulent insurance claims, unauthorized medical interventions, and violations of established medical and administrative protocols.
Official documents indicate that several Articles of Charge have been framed against Dr. Shah under the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956.
The charges include alleged falsification of records, submission of misleading claims under the PMJAY-SEHAT scheme, unauthorized cardiac interventions, violations of procurement procedures, and conduct unbecoming of a government servant.
Among the allegations being examined is that advanced cardiac procedures, including pacemaker-related interventions, were carried out on patients who allegedly did not require such treatment.
The inquiry pertains to 103 cardiac patients who underwent pacemaker-related procedures at GMC Anantnag.
According to findings cited in the departmental proceedings, a review of 55 cases found that 27 patients had normal heart function and allegedly did not meet the clinical criteria for the advanced cardiac intervention they received. Investigators have alleged that nearly half of the evaluated patients may have undergone procedures without adequate medical justification.
The inquiry further alleges that unnecessary procedures were used to generate claims under government-funded health insurance schemes.
One of the central allegations relates to the purported misuse of the PMJAY-SEHAT scheme through the submission of inaccurate reimbursement claims.
According to the chargesheet, 103 cases were reportedly booked on the Transaction Management System (TMS) under the “Dual Chamber Pacemaker Implantation” package. However, investigators claim that physical medical records indicated that the patients had undergone a different procedure known as Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing (LBBAP).
The inquiry alleges that the discrepancy amounted to a deliberate misrepresentation aimed at securing higher reimbursements under the government-sponsored health insurance programme.
Officials further noted that among the 55 suspected LBBAP cases examined during the inquiry, 27 patients were found to have normal left ventricular function despite having undergone the procedure.
Dr. Syed Maqbool Ahmad Shah has strongly denied the allegations, describing them as fabricated and asserting that the inquiry is still underway.
He said media reports were portraying the allegations as proven facts even though no final findings had been reached.
“What is being circulated in the media is totally different from the actual report. People are treating a memorandum of allegations as a final verdict, which is not correct,” he said.
The cardiologist maintained that GMC Anantnag had submitted detailed replies supported by documentary evidence and that the inquiry committee was currently examining all material placed before it.
“We have replied to every allegation with documentary evidence. The matter is under consideration and we have full faith in the system. Justice will ultimately prevail,” he said.
Appealing against what he termed premature conclusions, Dr. Shah urged the public to allow the inquiry process to take its course and await the final outcome of the investigation. |
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