Filenews 10 February 2022 - by Michalis Hadjivasilis
In the dock will be found a doctor for fictitious charges under the GHS, while a second case of a doctor for a similar case is pending before the Legal Service.
The Attorney General decided to prosecute a private healthcare professional following complaints from patients that he had submitted a claim for payment for services he did not offer them. According to the Legal Service, the criminal prosecution of a private health professional, contracted with the GHS and registered with the HIO, was decided after after the investigation of relevant complaints by the Police, it became apparent that on behalf of the doctor's company, a combination of activities was registered in the GHS for which a payment claim was submitted, but these have not been carried out.
In particular, the complaints against the private health professional were made by patients, who complained to the HIO that the doctor in question had registered in his portion of the GHS a notional number of specific health care services without having been provided to the patients.
From the existing testimony and evidence, the private doctor allegedly committed offences of corruption, money laundering, compilation of documents without authority, falsification of registers and records, fraud and detachment of property by false representations.
Information from "F" reports that the investigations of the ICF of Nicosia revealed that this doctor had submitted from July 2020 until the end of May 2021, claims for the amount of €7,300 supposedly for the administration of injections to patients.
It is noted that the Police have investigated yet another case involving a doctor who was accused of charging the GHS for services he allegedly did not offer. The case concerns a doctor who had stated that she underwent surgery by a 72-year-old woman and then it was found that while she entered the operating room, she had not undergone such an operation. The doctor gave some explanations and the case file is now being studied by the Legal Service to clarify whether there is evidence of her being brought to justice.
On this issue, the PIS in a statement expresses its disappointment and regret and stresses that those guilty of such phenomena should be punished by example. The PIS adds that it will monitor the progress of the case and in the event of a court order, its competent bodies will proceed with the appropriate disciplinary proceedings. Finally, it requires strict controls on the part of the HIO and the implementation of safeguards.
