- Audit Questions Necessity of Half of Reviewed Cardiac Procedures; Minister Promises Action
Srinagar : A major controversy has surfaced at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag involving allegations of medical malpractice, procedural irregularities, and the misuse of public healthcare funds under the PMJAY-SEHAT insurance scheme. Following an investigation by the State Anti-Fraud Unit, the Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education Department suspended Dr. Syed Maqbool Ahmad Shah, Associate Professor of Cardiology, pending a formal inquiry.
Auditors discovered discrepancies between online records and the institutional Cath Lab register. Specifically, reimbursement claims were generated for 103 Dual Chamber Pacemaker Implantations, whereas the actual procedures performed were Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing (LBBAP). An expert panel from SKIMS Soura reviewed 55 of these cases and found that 27 patients had normal left ventricular function and did not meet the medical criteria for the specialized LBBAP technique. Furthermore, investigators allege that some beneficiaries were forced to pay out-of-pocket expenses to private vendors for medical hardware that should have been completely cashless and procured through approved institutional channels.
Following these findings, disciplinary proceedings were initiated, and Dr. Maqbool was formally suspended on June 20, 2026. Commenting on the situation, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo said “We have already started the inquiry and suspended the doctor concerned. Let the inquiry be completed. ” “The inquiry was initiated earlier by the department. We are waiting for the report, and whoever is found responsible will face action as per the law,”
Dr. Syed Maqbool has strongly denied all allegations, calling them fabricated. He maintained that detailed replies and documentary evidence have already been submitted to address every concern, stating:
“What is being circulated in the media is totally different from the actual report. People are treating a memorandum of allegations as a final verdict, which is not correct,”
“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,”
“An inquiry is meant to establish facts, not to pronounce guilt before the process is complete,”
GMC Anantnag Administrator Mukbil Lateef and health activist Dr. Mohammad Momin Khan have both called for public restraint and respect for due process. They emphasized that Dr. Maqbool is a prominent local cardiologist and that no final conclusions should be drawn until the official inquiry committee completes its investigation.
