False diagnoses that involve higher costs, embezzlement and false analysis reports, fictitious prescriptions or over-prescriptions of high-cost drugs, incorrect management of the drug register, re-use of disposable devices. These are some of the most frequent irregularities detected by the Nas in 2011, in an operation that made it possible to discover 31 million euros stolen from public health during the year. With the result that 356 doctors were reported to the Judicial Authority, in a state of freedom: 337 for offenses committed under the intramoenia regime and 19 for extramoenia activities - these in particular for having taken money from visits made on behalf of the hospital, for having induced patients to undergo paid treatment in private practices. Among the other more frequent irregularities there are also corruption and fraud, artificial tenders; absenteeism, abusive exercise of the profession, use of expired reagents. Based on the investigations by the Carabinieri, several ordinary and accounting prosecutors have arranged for the seizure of assets for 10 million euros: homes, cars, company shares, current accounts and medical equipment. On the matter comes the comment of the Minister of Health, Renato Balduzzi, who thanked the Nas: «The Carabinieri have done their part. Good politics and good administration must make their own. The rules are there, but the control system can still improve. This requires greater commitment than good politics and good administration, because whoever steals from the National Health System takes away not only resources, but rights from all citizens and in particular from those who are weaker and in need of appropriate treatment".
February 20, 2012 - DoctorNews
