A reported 141 doctors and
nurses are under investigation on aggravated fraud charges for
allegedly helping family and friends to carry out medical tests
for free at a public hospital near Rome, investigative sources
said Friday.
The medical professionals all work at the Hospital G.B.
Grassi in the beach town of Lido di Ostia near the capital.
Finance police in Rome in November 2017 opened the
investigation into the alleged fraud, coordinated by prosecutors
in the capital.
According to investigators, the medical personnel involved
allowed friends and family members to bypass wait lists for
patients by booking their exams directly.
The suspects allegedly used their personal passwords to book
the medical test and then, once the exam or visit had been
carried out, gave the result to the patient, who did not pay the
mandatory ticket required for a medical service at a public
facility.
A total of "523 including relatives and friends of doctors
and nurses, who also benefited from the illicit scheme"
allegedly bypassed the system, according to investigative
sources.
The suspects have been charged with aggravated fraud and will
also be tried by the Audit Court over the revenue losses for the
Lazio region caused by the alleged scam.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA