Following the tragic deaths of two patients at Ahmedabad’s Khyati Hospital, the Gujarat government has filed a police complaint against five individuals, including the hospital’s director and a prominent doctor, Dr. Prashant Vazirani. The complaint stems from accusations of medical malpractice, fraud, and exploitation of government health schemes.
Within hours of the allegations, Dr. Vazirani, accused of endangering the health of 19 patients, was arrested. Another doctor, Sanjay Patoliya, who is linked to hospitals in Rajkot and Surat, also faces charges, amplifying the controversy across the state. The scandal centers around the hospital’s alleged practice of performing unnecessary angioplasty and stent procedures, taking advantage of government-backed health programs like the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY).
An investigation conducted by expert doctors revealed that the patients who underwent angiograms and angioplasty at Khyati Hospital had no medical need for these procedures. In fact, some were healthy, with no significant heart blockages. Investigators allege that the accused parties conspired to exploit the PMJAY scheme by misrepresenting patients’ health conditions, falsifying consent forms, and performing unnecessary stent placements—all with the intent to defraud the government.
The criminal syndicate is said to have generated significant illicit reimbursements by creating fake medical records to claim reimbursements for the unnecessary treatments. A police complaint has now been filed, accusing the individuals of causing harm through these fraudulent procedures, leading to patient deaths. The investigation has gained further momentum with the submission of an expert report that substantiates the claims.
One of the victims, Maheshbhai Barot, underwent angioplasty at the hospital despite no valid medical reason for the procedure. The inquiry committee’s report highlights discrepancies in the angiography results: while the official report claimed an 80% blockage in a key artery, the angiography video showed only a 30-40% blockage in a different artery. Similarly, a reported 90% blockage in another artery was contradicted by the angiography CD, which showed only 30-40% blockage.
The investigation suggests that the hospital intentionally exaggerated blockages in order to exploit the PMJAY scheme. After performing the unnecessary angioplasty, the hospital allegedly failed to provide the required follow-up care, further endangering the patient’s health.
Dr. Prakash Mehta, Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) of Sola Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, stated, “The complaint includes serious allegations such as performing unnecessary procedures, endangering lives, causing deaths, and failing to obtain proper consent.” He also noted that while the hospital was approved by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation under the Gujarat Nursing Home Act, it had not completed the necessary registration under the Clinical Establishment Act, and the hospital had been served with a notice to explain this omission.
