Chandigarh: Following the high-profile Ayushman Bharat scam, in which funds were siphoned off through forged bills and deceased patients’ records, PGI has overhauled its procurement process. The institute has introduced a “zero third-party” policy to eliminate middlemen and prevent future financial irregularities.In a major policy shift, the institute has decided to completely remove third-party vendors from the procurement chain for implants and medical consumables. This move ensures that all transactions for surgeries and specialised treatment under cashless schemes are handled directly between the hospital and authorised manufacturers or internal pharmacies, leaving no room for private intermediaries to interact with the medical staff.To curb the influence of external agents, the administration has strictly prohibited vendors from dealing directly with doctors, hospital staff, or patients’ attendants. Previously, these vendors often acted as facilitators for obtaining implants, which led to price manipulation and billing fraud. All requirements will now be routed through a centralised internal system to maintain transparency.The Ayushman scam involved the transfer of around Rs 88 lakh to pharmaceutical vendors without valid prescriptions. PGI is now transitioning to a secure online indenting system. This digital solution, integrated with the Hospital Information System, replaces manual records with a real-time tracking mechanism. Every medicine and implant issued under the schemes is digitally linked to a specific patient’s ID and the treating consultant’s authorisation.To further safeguard patients from the “medicine-resale” racket, the institute is increasing its staffing to ensure direct delivery of medications and implants to the patient’s bedside. By eliminating the need for attendants to visit external pharmacies with manual slips, the hospital aims to shut down the use of counterfeit stamps and forged documents that were central to the recent scam.The Ayushman Bharat scheme is designed to provide eligible families with free medical treatment and medications up to Rs 5 lakh annually. For medicines exceeding Rs 2,000, patients require a doctor’s prescription documented in an indent book, which must be verified with stamps from the doctor, nursing officer, Ayushman counter, and dispensary.MSID:: 130021214 413 |
