SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, March 20: The Dhanbad District Grievance Redressal Cell (DGRC) is set to examine disputed pending bills submitted by private hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
In a meeting chaired by Additional District Magistrate (Law and Order) Piyush Sinha, hospitals affiliated with the scheme were directed to submit their pending bill documents to the Civil Surgeon’s office within a week. The DGRC will review these bills in its next session to determine their approval or rejection.
NAFU Freezes Payments Over Complaints
The National Anti-Fraud Unit (NAFU), New Delhi, has withheld payments to 15 private hospitals (registered with Ayushman health scheme) in Dhanbad following patient complaints.
The affected hospitals include Asg Hospital, Sunrise Hospital, Patliputra Nursing Home, Sarwamangla Nursing Home, Rajeswari Health Care and Research Centre, Life Care Hospital, Life Line Hospital, Raj Clinic and Research Centre, Avinash Hospital (a unit of Busania International Pvt.), Jharkhand Diabetic and Eye Centre, Jai Hospital, Asian Dwarika Jalan Hospital, Puja Nursing Home, JP Hospital, and Arogya Nursing Home.
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Hospitals Directed to Prioritize Treatment
During the meeting, ADM Piyush Sinha addressed grievances from representatives of the affected hospitals and instructed them to submit pending bills for verification.
He emphasized that the government launched the Ayushman scheme to provide quality healthcare to the underprivileged and reminded hospitals of their obligation to prioritize patients under the scheme.
“Doctors are considered gods on earth. Treat Ayushman scheme patients on priority and ensure they do not face any problems,” Sinha stated.
Complaints Affecting Hospital Payments
Sinha also clarified that hospitals registered under the Ayushman scheme cannot refuse treatment to cardholders and must admit patients as per protocol.
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Meanwhile, IMA Dhanbad district chapter secretary Dr. Rakesh Inder Singh pointed out that minor patient complaints have led to NAFU withholding payments. “At times, patients receive treatment under the scheme but complain when hospitals deny them AC cabins, leading to payment blocks,” he explained.
