Throw the book at PSEMAS fraudsters - Venaani
JEMIMA BEUKES
The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has demanded that government decisively deal with fraudsters implicated in the Public Service Employee Medical Aid Scheme (PSEMAS) corruption saga.
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) report in 2018 revealed that PSEMAS has lost over N$900 million a year to fraudsters, with the aid of unscrupulous private medical practitioners.
Finance minister Calle Schlettwein told parliament last week that N$13 million paid to healthcare service providers since June 2018, for which claims had been submitted incorrectly, had been recovered following a forensic investigation.
He added a further N$23 million is expected to be recovered.
According to PDM leader McHenry Venaani the N$13 million is only a tip of an iceberg, judging from the enormous funds that had been defrauded.
The ministry has since opened a number of criminal cased, while agreements with some medical practices were suspended.
According to Schlettwein the investigation found that some general practices submitted claims for services not performed and issued prescriptions for patients not seen by a doctor.
A criminal case was opened with the police with CR number 159/11/2018.
Some general practitioners were found to have abused non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and cortisone injections, as well as IVs, nebulisations, aspiration of joints and drainage of abscess codes.
There were also claims identified for services performed on Sundays, while practices were closed.
Venaani demanded that Schlettwein file criminal charges against the perpetrators and that they be subjected to harsh punishments.
Venaani emphasised this must start with perpetrators who are seemingly powerful and untouchable.
He added that these fraudsters, who call themselves doctors, should not escape with mere slaps on their wrist, and that the punishment meted out must act as a deterrent to others contemplating the same crime.
“Their fraud, waste and abuse of state funds is already a financial burden, contributing to the overall cost of private healthcare in Namibia. Let us not forget that the fund relies on taxpayer money and taxpayer money should be used wisely, and not succumb to such losses. Since these fraudsters are medical practitioners that have made false claims, they can easily be detected because they are registered in government systems,” Venaani said.
He added this is the only way to reduce graft in Namibia.
The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has demanded that government decisively deal with fraudsters implicated in the Public Service Employee Medical Aid Scheme (PSEMAS) corruption saga.
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) report in 2018 revealed that PSEMAS has lost over N$900 million a year to fraudsters, with the aid of unscrupulous private medical practitioners.
Finance minister Calle Schlettwein told parliament last week that N$13 million paid to healthcare service providers since June 2018, for which claims had been submitted incorrectly, had been recovered following a forensic investigation.
He added a further N$23 million is expected to be recovered.
According to PDM leader McHenry Venaani the N$13 million is only a tip of an iceberg, judging from the enormous funds that had been defrauded.
The ministry has since opened a number of criminal cased, while agreements with some medical practices were suspended.
According to Schlettwein the investigation found that some general practices submitted claims for services not performed and issued prescriptions for patients not seen by a doctor.
A criminal case was opened with the police with CR number 159/11/2018.
Some general practitioners were found to have abused non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and cortisone injections, as well as IVs, nebulisations, aspiration of joints and drainage of abscess codes.
There were also claims identified for services performed on Sundays, while practices were closed.
Venaani demanded that Schlettwein file criminal charges against the perpetrators and that they be subjected to harsh punishments.
Venaani emphasised this must start with perpetrators who are seemingly powerful and untouchable.
He added that these fraudsters, who call themselves doctors, should not escape with mere slaps on their wrist, and that the punishment meted out must act as a deterrent to others contemplating the same crime.
“Their fraud, waste and abuse of state funds is already a financial burden, contributing to the overall cost of private healthcare in Namibia. Let us not forget that the fund relies on taxpayer money and taxpayer money should be used wisely, and not succumb to such losses. Since these fraudsters are medical practitioners that have made false claims, they can easily be detected because they are registered in government systems,” Venaani said.
He added this is the only way to reduce graft in Namibia.
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