Probe is still on, but Faridabad cardiac centre reopens | Gurgaon News
GURGAON: Reopening of the cardiac centre at Badshah Khan Civil Hospital in Faridabad has brought critical services back on track, but also raises uncomfortable questions about oversight, accountability, and timing, coming even as serious allegations linked to the facility remain under scrutiny.As service resumed on Friday, the centre will continue to operate under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. Health minister Arti Rao had said that no renewal was being considered and that the existing PPP agreement continues as per its original terms till May 2027.Officials reiterated this on Friday, underlining that the reopening does not imply any fresh contractual decision. Local bodies minister Vipul Goel visited the hospital along with mayor Praveen Joshi on Friday.“The contract is valid till May 2027. It has not been renewed; it is continuing as per the original terms,” Faridabad CMO Jayat Ahuja told TOI. The restart comes just days after Haryana Human Rights Commission took cognisance of a complaint alleging that Meditrina Heart Centre, which was running the cardiac facility, allowed a doctor who was not a qualified heart surgeon to carry out cardiac procedures, resulting in “grave injustice” to patients. It had directed the additional chief secretary (health), director general of health services and Faridabad chief medical officer to submit a detailed report on action taken against the company, status of its contract, steps regarding alleged fund misappropriation, and efforts to appoint a new agency. The matter is still under examination.Yet, the sequence of events leaves a grey zone. An FIR registered in Oct 2024 by the Faridabad anti-corruption bureau against the company’s top functionary is still in play. Allegations include cheating, forgery and destruction of evidence. A separate complaint details how an MBBS doctor allegedly posed as a cardiologist and performed dozens of heart procedures, alongside claims of reuse of critical consumables and double billing under govt schemes.Authorities have maintained silence on specifics, citing the matter as sub judice. “The issue is before the court and any outcome will depend on judicial proceedings,” Ahuja said.For patients, the reopening restores access to cardiac care. For the system, it puts the spotlight back on whether regulatory checks have kept pace with the risks flagged over the past year.In June 2025, TOI reported that an MBBS doctor, Pankaj Mohan Sharma, allegedly posed as a cardiologist and performed over 50 heart procedures in eight months at the centre.Sharma misused the registration number of a legitimate cardiologist. That fraud came to light after a complaint by Sanjay Gupta, a Faridabad-based lawyer. The accused was removed by the hospital management. The case before HHRC is scheduled for April 9, and its findings are likely to determine whether the current arrangement can continue without deeper intervention.
