A cardiologist at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag was suspended on Saturday after an official investigation revealed widespread alleged medical irregularities, including unnecessary cardiac procedures on patients who experts said they did not need and fraudulent claims under the PMJAY-SEHAT scheme.
The Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education Department has named Dr. Syed Maqbool, assistant professor of cardiology on deputation to GMC Anantnag, and accused him of tampering with official medical records, exploiting patients, submitting fraudulent insurance claims, and colluding with private vendors, the news agency reported. PTI.
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What are the charges against doctors?
The allegations focus on an alleged pacemaker implantation scam involving 103 heart patients.
The expert review found that 27 of 55 patients who underwent advanced left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) procedures had normal heart function and “there was absolutely no medical reason to perform such procedures.”
“Pending investigation into his conduct, Dr Syed Maqbool Ahmed Shah, Associate Professor of Cardiology currently on deputation to Government Medical College, Anantnag, has been placed on suspension, with immediate effect in respect of Rule 31 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Probation and Appeal) Rules, 1956,” an order issued by Commissioner/Secretary, Department of Health and Medical Education, M Raju, said.
The order stipulates that during the suspension period, the doctor will remain associated with the Jammu Government Medical College office, the agency report added.
State Health Minister Sakina Itoo said the investigation began after several complaints against the cardiologist.
“The government started the investigation after receiving several complaints so that the facts would come to the fore. After the investigation, when certain findings emerged, we suspended him. We asked him to explain his position,” Ito told reporters in Kulgam.
“Today, a suspension order was issued. I appeal to every doctor not to make concessions on people’s lives. The government gives you a salary. This job is for the people, to help take care of patients,” she said, adding, “The government is working on it. The necessary measures have been taken, and everything that needs to be done will be done.”
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Falsification of records, fraud, exploitation and more
According to the ministry, the charges against Maqbool include falsifying records, system-wide fraud, exploitation of patients, collusion with private vendors, unauthorized medical interventions, and conduct inappropriate for a public employee.
“You have booked and claimed 103 cases on TMS under the ‘Dual Chamber Pacemaker Implantation’ package (Code: MC016A). However, physical records prove that you have already performed Left Bundle Branch Area Acceleration (LBBAP) procedure.
The charges leveled by the ministry said that this deliberate misrepresentation was designed to extract public welfare funds from the PMJAY/SEHAT scheme under false clinical pretext.
The investigation concluded that the doctor performed invasive LBBAP procedures without clinical justification. An independent expert evaluation showed that 27 out of 55 suspected cases of LBBAP – approximately 49 percent – involved patients with completely normal left ventricular function and wide QRS morphology.
‘Total disregard for patient safety’
Performing such procedures on these patients showed “a complete disregard for patient safety and professional ethics for personal motives,” according to the memo issued by the Department of Health and Medical Education.
The findings emerged after the state health agency noticed an unusual rise in LBBAP-related claims from the institution in December 2025 and ordered a specialist audit.
Maqbool has been directed to submit his defense in writing within a week, otherwise unilateral disciplinary action will be taken.
The investigation also revealed allegations of direct financial exploitation of PMJAY-SEHAT beneficiaries.
“You have directly violated the ‘cashless and free’ carte blanche mandate of the PMJAY/SEHAT scheme and forced vulnerable patients to pay out-of-pocket expenses for procedures done within a government facility,” the department accused the doctor.
Citing one case, the department said a patient was forced to pay $70,000 for a private company.
“This financial exploitation of public beneficiaries constitutes serious criminal misconduct,” she added.
The management further alleged that Maqbool “deliberately bypassed” the corporate supply chain mechanism at GMC Anantnag.
“It failed to obtain the required medical devices through the mandatory route (which was vetted by the PMJAY department, signed by the Accident Medical Officer, and fulfilled by the AMRIT store). Instead, it illegally cooperated with private third-party vendors, effectively destroying the hospital’s transparency, quality control and accountability protocols,” the letter said.
The investigation alleged that mandatory approvals, quality control safeguards and procurement protocols were ignored. She added that some purchase records were not provided during the anti-fraud investigation, raising concerns about the possibility of concealing evidence.
According to the memorandum, the state fraud unit has received multiple alerts about suspected out-of-pocket expenses incurred by poor patients at GMC Anantnag. On 19 December 2025, the SAFU team conducted an unannounced inspection and interviewed the Medical Supervisor, Cath Lab Officer, Accounts Department and Amrit Store Officer.
The department alleged that although hospital protocol required the cardiologist to issue an order, the accused bypassed the process.
A patient was forced to pay 70,000 out of pocket
Referring to the case of patient Pir Rafiq Ahmed, the memo stated that a review of the beneficiary’s accounts and a home visit confirmed that he had to pay $70,000 from his own pocket.
Checking TMS claims online with the actual cath lab procedure record revealed that LBBAP procedures were performed while claiming funds for implantation of a dual-chamber pacemaker.
Following an unusual rise in LBBAP cases, the state health agency referred the matter to the head of cardiology at SKIMS, Sora, for expert review.
“There was absolutely no medical reason to perform LBBAP on these 27 individuals. Therefore, the SHA rejected these fraudulent claims,” she added.
The government proposed to initiate administrative proceedings against Maqbool under the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956.
