A cardiologist at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag has been suspended after an official inquiry uncovered alleged large-scale medical irregularities, including unnecessary cardiac procedures on patients who experts said did not require them and fraudulent claims under the PMJAY-SEHAT scheme.
The Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education Department named Dr Syed Maqbool, an associate professor of Cardiology deputed to GMC Anantnag, accusing him of manipulating official medical records, exploiting patients, making fraudulent insurance claims and colluding with private vendors.
The allegations centre on an alleged pacemaker implantation scam involving 103 cardiac patients. An expert review found that 27 of the 55 patients who underwent advanced Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing (LBBAP) procedures had normal heart function and 'there was absolutely no medical reason to perform such procedures'.
The government has proposed to initiate departmental proceedings against Maqbool under the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956.
