More fake benefits emerge after those for the blind

The ministry of Health is drafting a black list with beneficiaries of welfare benefits, which includes the names of the 36,000 people who, while receiving benefits, did not appear for the census in accordance with the procedure provided by law.

This is evidenced by the cross-checking process underway since last Monday. The census data is cross checked against that of the ministry of Interior and the ministry of Citizen Protection, with the database containing the Social Security Number (AMKA) of the ministry of Labour and the ministry of Finance, to identify non-existent, doubly-entered and other beneficiaries.

They were included but are now asking for removal from the Register

It is indicative that the KEP centres of the country are informing the Health ministry daily of dozens of cancellations by benefitiaries. As they explain, although the beneficiaries were included in the census, they are returning to the KEP centres, asking to be excluded from the lists and using various excuses. The Health ministry believes they have received the clear message of the leadership about assuming responsibilities on the part of those receiving benefits they were not entitled to.

"The State will claim the money paid to non-beneficiaries and impose disciplinary penalties on those involved in the illegal administration of welfare benefits," secretary for Health Markos Bolaris tells protothema.gr.

Legal management of fake benefits proving to be a “Gordian Knot”

The next stage of the investigation is the search for disciplinary, criminal and civil liabilities of both the alleged beneficiaries and their physicians.

Regarding the cases of NHS doctors and insurance funds that had set up the "industry" for benefits by means of false reports, the disciplinary review will begin immediately. Health Inspectors have access to information and documentation on doctors consulting with patients without ever examining them. Financial Crime has been mandated to monitor the deposits and assets of the ophthalmologist in Zakynthos who granted hundreds of blindness certificates to people on the island for a hefty price.

A resolution is sought for the issue of the return of benefits by the thousands of beneficiaries who received them illegally. It is considered impractical that the depopulated legal department of the Health ministry will have to cope with the workload involved concerning the 36,000 fake recipients alone, which will be even more if they are doubled.

Reportedly, they are looking at the option of self-employed lawyers for direct legal settlement. In terms of their pay, the Health ministry is thinking of paying some percentage to each lawyer depending on the compensation achieved for the Greek State.