RTI reveals lapses as PGI Chandigarh employee booked in Ayushman Bharat scam

Chandigarh: Two months after the shocking revelation of a major financial scam at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh in which Rs 1.14 crore was siphoned off using the names of dead patients, fake bills, and forged medical records, a contractual worker earlier found guilty in the case has now been implicated in the Ayushman Bharat scam, according to a Right to Information (RTI) response.

According to news reports, the RTI reply revealed that the employee, Durlabh Kumar, had previously been found guilty of cheating patients and misusing the scheme by using forged documents and stamps to illegally procure medicines and supplies. Despite this, no action was taken against him in 2015, and he was let off. Now, however, he has been booked in the case.

It was further revealed that the Ayushman Bharat scam could have been prevented or action against the culprits taken much earlier, had PGIMER acted on an internal inquiry years ago.

Also read- PGI Chandigarh Scam: Rs 1.14 crore misappropriated using Dead Patients' Names, reveals RTI

"Had the PGI acted decisively to 'nip the crime in the bud" back then, current multi-crore scams would have been prevented," said JAC chairman Ashwani Kumar Munjal, who filed the first RTI application and exposed the scam in July this year. Munjal also filed the RTI this time seeking details of the action taken against Kumar, reports TOI.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that a major financial scam at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh through a Right to Information (RTI) report exposed that over Rs 1.14 crore funds meant for the treatment of poor and critically ill patients were misused and siphoned off using the names of dead patients, fake bills, and forged medical records. The matter is currently under the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation.

The investigation further uncovered that a major portion, Rs 88.12 lakh, was transferred to pharmaceutical vendors for medicine procurement without any accompanying doctor’s prescription slips.

The issue, which was inactive for three years, was raised by Ashwani Kumar Munjal, president of the Joint Action Committee of Contractual Workers’ Unions, who filed the RTI to access a report on financial irregularities in the Private Grant Cell. Initially, the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of PGIMER’s Vigilance Cell denied the report, but after an appeal and order from the Chief Vigilance Officer, the report was shared on July 1.

The 12-page detailed report prepared by Prof Arun Kumar Aggarwal exposed shocking facts. It pointed out that Rs 27.66 lakh was taken using the names of three deceased patients. In one case, over Rs 11 lakh was released for a patient who had already passed away. The investigation also uncovered that PGIMER employees and their contacts were falsely shown as patients’ relatives to take another Rs 19 lakh. Later, the related files and software records subsequently went missing. Moreover, prescriptions were forged, and supply orders were issued without a doctor’s approval.

Additionally, the inquiry uncovered that Rs 50.11 lakh was paid to vendors for medicines never prescribed, and patients never visited PGIMER for treatment. Utilisation certificates and bills were sent to funding agencies without any verification. Moreover, Rs 6.96 lakh was paid against manipulated bills, and Rs 62,328 was disbursed twice for the same treatment using two different patient files — one of whom was already dead.

Even more concerning, the report pointed out that several of the accused continued to work within PGIMER during the investigation, and one officer was even allowed to retire without facing consequences. The involvement of contractual staff in handling crores of rupees is also highlighted as part of a possible wider network of collusion.

According to the committee’s findings, the irregularities occurred between 2017 and 2021, with five employees from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research's (PGIMER) Private Grant Cell implicated in the scam. But the scam came to light in October 2022, and the report does not name any senior officials. However, the five employees, despite being involved in the scam, were still employed at PGIMER and an employee on deputation. Another permanent employee, junior administrative assistant Dharam Chand, retired in 2020 without facing any action.

Also read- PGI Chandigarh Union demands high-level probe into AB-PMJAY Fraud