Six Medical Professionals Barred Amid Ayushman Bharat Scheme Violations
Natika Bhat
According to an official order issued by the Health and Medical Education Department, three doctors were found guilty of conducting private consultations while being on duty in government hospitals. These include Dr. Bilal Ahmad Bashir, a Consultant Surgeon at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag, who was linked to 312 unauthorized cases, Dr. Ishaq, a Medical Officer at District Hospital Pulwama, involved in 170 cases, and Dr. Younis Kamal, Associate Professor of Orthopaedics at GMC Anantnag, associated with 185 such instances.
In addition to private practice violations, the inquiry revealed that three other doctors were making unethical referrals of patients from government hospitals to private Empanelled Health Care Providers (EHCPs), which are part of the Ayushman Bharat scheme. These doctors—Dr. Vikas Gupta of CHC Hiranagar, Dr. Manju Kumari of EH Vijaypur, and Dr. Raj Kumar Bhagat of DH Samba—were involved in 19, 18, and 12 questionable referrals respectively. These referrals were deemed improper and suggest a conflict of interest, as they steered patients away from free treatment in government hospitals to paid services in private centers.
The government stated that the actions of these doctors directly undermine the purpose of the Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY/SEHAT scheme, which is designed to offer cashless and accessible healthcare to economically weaker sections of society. By diverting patients to private facilities or spending government time on private earnings, the doctors not only breached service rules but also deprived patients of their rightful care under the government scheme.
Officials in the Health Department described the violations as serious in nature and said such conduct cannot be tolerated. “The contributions of these doctors to public service were outweighed by their unethical practices, and strong disciplinary action was necessary,” a senior official said.
The banned doctors will face restrictions on future appointments and may also be subject to further legal or administrative proceedings depending on the outcome of departmental reviews. The government has also indicated that routine audits and stricter monitoring will be conducted in health institutions across the Union Territory to prevent such cases from recurring.
The move has been welcomed by health rights advocates and citizens alike, who have long demanded stronger accountability in the public health sector.
