Health Minister says inquiry underway
Srinagar, Jun 20: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday suspended Dr Syed Maqbool Ahmad Shah, Associate Professor of Cardiology at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag, pending inquiry into allegations of procedural misrepresentation and financial impropriety under the PMJAY-SEHAT scheme. The doctor has termed the accusations as “fabricated”.
Health Minister Sakeena Itoo said the inquiry is underway and whoever is found guilty will be punished as per the law.
The Health and Medical Education Department order, issued under Rule 31 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956, stated that pending inquiry into his conduct, the cardiologist has been placed under suspension with immediate effect and shall remain attached to the office of GMC Jammu.
According to the departmental memorandum, cross-referencing online TMS claims against the physical Cath Lab Procedure Register revealed that Dr Maqbool actually performed Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing (LBBAP) while claiming funds for a Dual Chamber Pacemaker. The State Health Agency (SHA) referred the data to the Head of Department of Cardiology at SKIMS Soura for expert review.
The expert panel reported that LBBAP is a highly specialised procedure with strict clinical boundaries, only indicated for patients with borderline or severe left ventricular dysfunction for specific narrow QRS ECG morphology. The clinical audit showed that 27 out of 55 patients (49 per cent) had normal LV function and wide QRS morphology, with no medical reason to perform LBBAP on these individuals. Consequently, SHA rejected these claims as fraudulent.
The memorandum stated that Dr Maqbool logged false descriptions in the official TMS system, bypassed the government supply chain, and extorted money from patients legally entitled to free healthcare, constituting a gross abuse of official position and serious medical malpractice warranting disciplinary action, including termination.
The Health Minister said the government has initiated an inquiry, and it would be premature to conclude before the process is completed. “Let the inquiry be completed. We are waiting for the report, and whoever is found guilty will be punished as per the law,” the minister said.
Dr Syed Maqbool rejected the allegations, stating that what is being circulated in the media is totally different from the actual report and that people are treating a memorandum of allegations as a final verdict, which is not correct. He said GMC Anantnag had already submitted a detailed response to the concerns raised, and the inquiry committee was currently examining the material. “We have replied to every allegation with documentary evidence. The matter is under consideration, and we have full faith in the system. Justice will ultimately prevail,” he said, urging the public not to prejudge the outcome.
Health activist Dr Mohd Momin Khan cautioned against equating allegations with proof of wrongdoing, stating that due process exists to ensure fairness and no individual should be declared guilty until the truth is established through a proper inquiry. He described Dr Maqbool as one of the prominent cardiologists who had treated thousands of patients over the years.
The allegations concerning the Cardiology Department at GMC Anantnag have generated widespread public attention, with patients and civil society groups seeking a transparent and impartial investigation.
