Rajasthan private hospitals announce 24-hour shutdown over hospital director's arrest

Jaipur: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday led a 24-hour statewide shutdown of private healthcare services in Rajasthan, as doctors’ bodies and private hospital associations launched a boycott of the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS) following the arrest of a doctor over alleged irregularities.

The shutdown, which began at 8 am on April 14 and will continue until 8 am on April 15, has resulted in the suspension of OPD, IPD, and emergency services in private hospitals across the state, severely affecting healthcare access for patients.  

Also Read:Jaipur Hospital operator arrested over alleged RGHS fraud

Medical Dialogues recently reported that a private hospital operator in Jaipur was arrested on Sunday for allegedly submitting forged and fabricated documents under the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS).

At a meeting chaired by IMA Rajasthan state president Dr Mahesh Chandra Sharma, representatives of private hospitals unanimously decided to stop generating new transaction IDs (TID) under RGHS. Patients already admitted will continue to receive treatment, but hospitals will not issue a fresh TID if required, reports TOI.

The association has warned that the boycott will continue until the arrested doctor is released and concerns related to the case are addressed. 

According to the news reports, the protest has received widespread support from prominent healthcare bodies, including the Rajasthan Alliance of Hospital Associations, Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHNHA), UPCHAR, AHPI Rajasthan, and PHNHS.

Dr. Sharma stated that the arrest has created a climate of fear and resentment among doctors, arguing that the action was taken without adequate dialogue or fair process. He warned that such measures could seriously disrupt healthcare delivery in the state. He further added that doctors have resolved to collectively boycott treatment services in the future if similar arrests occur over alleged irregularities in government schemes.

Speaking to TOI, IMA Rajasthan zonal secretary Dr Anurag Sharma said there was “deep anger” among doctors across the state. He said the medical board formed in the matter had not found any medical negligence, yet criminal action had been taken against a reputed doctor over what he described as alleged minor RGHS irregularities, adding that the arrest had hurt the dignity and morale of the fraternity.

PHNHA representative Dr. Vijay Kapoor also criticized the manner of the arrest, alleging that due legal process was not followed and that the doctor in the case was not given an opportunity to present his case. He claimed the doctor was treated “like a hardened criminal,” sparking outrage among healthcare professionals statewide.

Doctors’ associations have warned that if the doctor is not released and the concerns surrounding the case are not addressed, the agitation could escalate into a prolonged statewide shutdown of medical services.

The ongoing shutdown is expected to impact RGHS beneficiaries significantly, particularly affecting new admissions and approvals at empanelled private hospitals.

Also Read:Rajasthan private hospitals suspend cashless medicine services over unpaid dues