The Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) SEHAT scheme is often described as a lifeline for underprivileged patients in Jammu and Kashmir.
But an emerging financial controversy at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, has raised questions about institutional accountability after internal audits reportedly uncovered discrepancies involving crores of rupees in vendor payments.
Official sources said recent internal reviews at SKIMS flagged irregularities in the verification of vendor bills submitted under the scheme, prompting a re-examination of more than 1,000 vendor files.
According to committee findings, the initial verification of invoices was found to be in violation of the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) governing the scheme. When auditors recalculated the claims, they reportedly discovered substantial additional deductions and recoveries that had been missed during the first round of billing.
Sources familiar with the audit process said the scale of the recoveries suggested that the issue was not merely a clerical oversight but pointed to a systemic lapse in financial scrutiny.
“The recalculation exercise revealed that large amounts which should have been deducted earlier were overlooked. When the files were reviewed again, significant recoveries had to be made from vendors,” an official aware of the matter said.
However, despite the scale of the discrepancies, the issue has reportedly been addressed through internal corrections rather than a formal investigation.
Typically, when internal audits detect large financial irregularities in public institutions, the matter is referred to investigative agencies such as the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) or vigilance authorities. In this case, officials said the discrepancies were dealt with administratively through recalculations and recoveries.
The approach has raised concerns about accountability and transparency within one of Kashmir’s premier healthcare institutions.
“Recovering the money is one aspect, but the bigger question is why these discrepancies occurred in the first place and who approved the initial payments,” a source said, adding that the absence of punitive action may fail to deter similar lapses in the future.
SKIMS, which is among the region’s most prominent tertiary care hospitals, handles a significant volume of claims under the AB-PMJAY SEHAT scheme, making financial oversight crucial to maintaining public trust.
Officials said the institution’s handling of the audit findings has sparked debate internally about whether the matter should be escalated to vigilance authorities.
“Transparency is the strongest safeguard of trust. When public funds are involved, silent recoveries without an inquiry leave critical questions unanswered,” an official said.
SKIMS authorities could not be immediately reached for comment.
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