Ministry orders forged prescriptions inquiry
The Health Ministry revealed yesterday that 96 percent of prescriptions written by doctors at the Piraeus Organization for Insured Civil Servants in 2003 had been forged, costing the state Civil Servants’ Social Security Fund some 240,000 euros. The alleged fraud was discovered after an investigation by ministry officials which began in February and concluded last week. In a statement yesterday, the ministry blamed main opposition PASOK, which had been in power in 2003. The statement referred to «a situation that we inherited and are now attempting to eradicate through transparency and a sense of responsibility toward state coffers and the Greek taxpayer.» The ministry called on «those responsible» to return the swindled funds, noting that a prosecutor had been given the case file and would bring charges against suspected perpetrators.
