Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday suspended a senior cardiologist posted at Government Medical College (GMC), Anantnag, pending an inquiry into his conduct, according to an official order.
Dr Syed Maqbool Ahmad Shah, Associate Professor of Cardiology presently deputed to GMC Anantnag, has been placed under suspension with immediate effect under Rule 31 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956, the order issued by the Health and Medical Education Department said.
The order, issued by Commissioner/Secretary to the Government M. Raju, stated that the suspension would remain in force pending an inquiry into the conduct of the doctor.
During the period of suspension, Shah will remain attached to the office of Government Medical College, Jammu, it said.
The action comes amid allegations related to the functioning of the cardiology department at GMC Anantnag.
The suspension order comes after an inquiry into alleged large-scale procedural irregularities at the Anantnag Government Medical College revealed that nearly 50 per cent of his evaluated patients who underwent advanced cardiac surgical procedures did not even require them.
The Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education Department revealed fraudulent insurance claims, patient exploitation and unnecessary procedures on healthy patients, naming Dr Syed Maqbool, a Cardiologist at GMC Anantnag, for alleged large-scale procedural irregularities and manipulation of official medical records.
The incident revolves around an alleged pacemaker implantation scam involving 103 cardiac patients, with experts finding out that 27 out of 55 patients who underwent the procedure had normal heart function and “there was absolutely no medical reason to perform such procedures”.
“Pending enquiry into his conduct, Dr Syed Maqbool Ahmad Shah, Associate Professor, Cardiology presently deputed to Government Medical College, Anantnag, is hereby placed under suspension, with immediate effect in terms of Rule 31 of Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956,” an order, issued by Commissioner/Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, M Raju, said.
The order stated that during the period of his suspension, the doctor shall remain attached in the office of Government Medical College, Jammu.
State Health Minister Sakina Itoo said the inquiry against the cardiologist was initiated after receiving several complaints.
“The government had initiated the inquiry after receiving several complaints so that facts come to the fore. After the inquiry, when certain findings came out, we suspended him. We have asked him to explain his position,” Itoo told reporters in Kulgam.
“You booked and claimed 103 cases on the Transaction Management System (TMS) under the ‘Dual Chamber Pacemaker Implantation’ package (Code: MC016A). However, physical records prove you have actually performed Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing (LBBAP). This intentional misrepresentation was designed to siphon public welfare funds from the PMJAY/SEHAT scheme under a false clinical pretext,” the charges levelled by the department said.
The inquiry revealed that the doctor performed highly advanced and invasive LBBAP procedures on patients without any clinical justification.
