This Jammu and Kashmir healthcare story is honestly very unsettling because allegations are not about small paperwork mistake ah . We are talking about 103 cardiac procedures under PMJAY-SEHAT scheme at Government Medical College (GMC),Anantnag,and doctor has now been suspended pending inquiry.
On June 20,2026,Health Minister Sakina Itoo said inquiry would ensure that no healthcare professional endangers patient lives . And that line itself tells you how serious government is treating this matter .
Doctor identified in case is Dr. Syed Maqbool Ahmad Shah,an Associate Professor of Cardiology . Allegations against him are linked to falsified medical records and wrong reimbursement claims,which in hospital system is not some casual issue .
As per preliminary investigation,Dr. Shah allegedly performed Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing (LBBAP) but claimed reimbursement for Dual Chamber Pacemaker . State Health Agency (SHA) reportedly noticed unusual increase in LBBAP cases and then review was done by Head of Department of Cardiology at SKIMS,Soura.
And tbh,this is where case becomes more uncomfortable . Expert panel concluded that many patients were subjected to unnecessary procedures without medical justification . If that finding holds after full inquiry,then this is not just billing dispute,it is patient safety issue.
Few things standing out clearly in this case:
- Investigation started after complaint revealed irregularities.
- Dr. Syed Maqbool Ahmad Shah has been suspended pending inquiry .
- Patients were allegedly charged despite being eligible for free care.
Inquiry also brought up allegations that Dr. Shah logged false descriptions in official Transaction Management System (TMS) . He is also accused of bypassing government supply chain and taking money from patients,which raises very serious ethical questions.
One patient,Peer Rafiq Ahmad,confirmed that he was coerced into paying ₹70,000 directly to a private firm for procedure that should have been covered under scheme . That part is really hard to ignore,because free-care scheme exists for people who cannot afford this kind of burden .
At same time,GMC Anantnag administrator Mukbil Lateef has said no individual can be deemed guilty until inquiry is finalized . Fair point also,because final finding still has to come out .
But right now,preliminary findings have already shaken confidence around medical practices at institution . When patients enter hospital,they trust doctors with life itself… so if inquiry proves even part of this,then question becomes how many people suffered silently before complaint came out…
