Jaipur, Aug. 18 -- Rajasthan health department is planning to form an anti-fraud cell to monitor the irregularities in health schemes across the state, officials said on Sunday, a day after the department suspended 12 employees for misusing the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS). "The department is preparing a standard operation procedure (SOP) to ensure a better implementation of the RGHS and other schemes running under the health department. As part of the scheme, we are planning to set up an Anti-fraud cell that will comprise experts from IT, claim audit, medical audit and monitoring," said an officer from the department. According to the officials, a separate grievance redressal unit is also being formed under the supervision of the cell. "A centralized grievance resolution centre will also be set up at the state level under which a similar centre will also work at every district level. An online tracking system for complaint redressal will be developed," the officer said. She further added that the department is also working on implementing e-billing and e-prescription process in every hospital and pharmacy to build a real-time monitoring system. "As part of the SOP, an e-prescription and e-billing process is also being implemented by the department to ensure a real-time monitoring system. Regular audits and surprise inspections are being done. Hospitals and pharmacy stores found guilty will be removed from the scheme in future and legal action will be taken," she added. The development comes after the state government, on Saturday, suspended 12 employees including 2 doctors for misusing the RGHS scheme, while also lodging an FIR against a private hospital and three pharmacies for their alleged irregularities in the scheme. The department also said that they are preparing to take action against 473 more employees in the matter. In an official statement, the department said on Saturday, "The government is taking effective steps for the smooth functioning of the RGHS. The state government is taking strict action against the irregularities committed by hospitals, pharmacy stores and personnel in the scheme. In view of this monitoring, an FIR has been lodged on Saturday against 3 pharmacy stores and a private hospital while a letter has also been written to the cabinet to take action against 473 employees of 5 departments, 8 allopathic doctors and 2 ayurvedic doctors." The secretary of the health department, Gayatri Rathore, said, "The department received a slew of complaints of irregularities at various levels in the RGHS in the last few months." "These complaints were thoroughly investigated. The finance department was also roped in to conduct a thorough audit of the scheme. Based on the facts revealed in the audit, the FIR has been lodged against Shivam Drug Store in Churu, Guru Kripa Hospital and New India Medical Store in Sikar, and the operators and others of Shop No. 3 of Nagaur Cooperative Marketing Society Limited Mundwa in Nagaur," Rathore said. "In the course of action, a letter has been written to the primary and secondary education department, medical and health department, home department, Jaipur electricity distribution corporation and ayurveda department to take action against their 473 personnel and take action as per the rules on the irregularities in RGHS," said Harji Lal Atal, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Rajasthan State Health Assurance Agency. He added: "Complaints have surfaced against these personnel of purchasing other items from the pharmacy store instead of medicines, unnecessary use of Panchkarma Shirodhara, etc., making fake medicine prescriptions in connivance with the medical store." Officials also stated that the 12 suspended employees have been working in the commercial tax department, education department, ayurveda department, water resources department, health department, and the state police. "Prima facie, complaints were received against them that they are getting the treatments of their tenants, neighbours, friends, and also of their children under the scheme in the name of their wife, married daughter, brother, sister, or in their own name. Meanwhile, the two ayurvedic doctors against whom a punishable action was sought from the government were prescribing medicines without examination. The 8 allopathic doctors were also found prescribing unnecessary medicines and also making fake prescriptions," he added....