New Audio-Video Consent Rules for PM-JAY Hospitals in Gujarat after Controversial Deaths, ET HealthWorld
Ahmedabad: Almost 20 days after the death of two patients following unnecessary angioplasties at Khyati Hospital, Gujarat govt has announced strict new protocols for hospitals. Under the new standard operating procedures (SOPs), hospitals must mandatorily record audio and video consent from patients’ relatives before conducting cardiac, cardiovascular, pediatric, radiological and chemotherapy procedures under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) and Mukhyamantri Amrutam (MA) scheme.
This decision follows allegations that family members of the deceased were not informed about the angioplasty procedures they underwent at Khyati Hospital.
Following a meeting with the senior officials of the health department on Saturday, state health minister Rushikesh Patel said that the state anti-fraud unit (SAFU) will be strengthened with new teams that will regularly visit hospitals to check the quality of care provided to patients. The teams will also check the quality of stents and implants, with any suspicious cases reported to the national anti-fraud unit.
Additionally, hospitals will be required to upload recordings of all angiography and angioplasty procedures to a portal. The software for the same is in the works, officials said. “No hospital will be allowed to play with human lives or indulge in any malpractice. Exemplary steps are being taken to ensure that no hospital or individual does it again,” Patel said.
The meeting was attended by principal secretary (health) Dhananjay Dwivedi and health commissioner Harshad Patel along with senior officials. Under the new directives, the chief district health officer or medical officer of the health department will have to make at least two visits to the hospitals to assess the quality of care, based on which the establishments will receive grades. The Khyati Hospital case has raised serious concerns about administrative processes, particularly regarding approvals for emergency medical procedures and the disbursal of funds under various healthcare schemes.
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