A probe by the Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education (HME) Department has found irregularities in cardiac procedures conducted by Head of Department Cardiology Dr Syed Maqbool at Government Medical College (GMC), Anantnag.
The cardiologist Dr. Syed Maqbool has been suspended by the government and also served a notice following an inquiry into 103 cardiac procedure cases registered under the PMJAY-SEHAT scheme.
The probe found discrepancies between claims uploaded on the Transaction Management System (TMS) and entries in the Cath Lab Procedure Register.
Investigators found that while funds were claimed for dual-chamber pacemaker implantation, the procedures actually performed were left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP).
The State Health Agency (SHA) flagged an unusual rise in LBBAP-related claims and referred the matter to the Head of Cardiology at SKIMS, Soura, for expert review.
A clinical audit of 55 cases found that 27 patients—nearly 49 percent—had normal left ventricular function and wide QRS morphology, with experts concluding that there was no medical indication for LBBAP in these cases. The SHA subsequently rejected the related claims.