European Healthcare Fraud and Corruption Conference 18-19 October 2004

EU Commission agree to help fund first ever EU Healthcare Fraud and Corruption Conference

The NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS), and partner organisations from five other EU countries, have secured funding from AGIS, an EU Commission programme to help EU member states co-operate in criminal matters, for the first ever conference on tackling fraud and corruption in EU healthcare.

More than GBP600 billion is spent on the provision of healthcare across the EU and the aim of the conference will be to ensure the best possible protection of these funds. The better that healthcare resources can be protected, the better that healthcare systems will be able to protect the health of the people of Europe .

CFSMS is organising the conference, scheduled for the 18-19 October 2004, to examine problems and solutions in healthcare fraud and corruption within the 25 EU member states, with a view to encouraging joint working, developing common standards and sharing best practice.

Although the CFSMS is the lead organisation for this initiative, the application to the European Commission' AGIS programme for the funding was a result of a joint working group with counter fraud and corruption representatives from five other European Union countries. These are:

- The Polish Ministry of Health;

- The Bureau of Fight against Corruption (Ministry of Interior - Slovakia );

- Official College of Pharmacists of Madrid ;

- Dutch Association of Health Insurers (ZN);

- AOK - German Healthcare Fraud Prevention Unit;

Work between the 6 EU partners

Already there have been examples of practical cooperation between the partner countries. For example, a system developed by the CFSMS in conjunction with the AMTAC Group (see CFSMS press release - 17 November 2003 ) for testing the quality of metal used in dental work was shared with the German AOK organisation. During discussions with AOK it was identified that similar fraud and corruption is being perpetrated in Germany as in England and Wales.

Health Minister Lord Warner, on behalf of the UK , said:     "This is a good example of how European cooperation can help tackle common problems. It shows the UK at the heart of Europe promoting joint action to tackle fraud and corruption. The conference in London in October is an excellent opportunity to learn from each other on how to protect the resources of the NHS and other European healthcare systems. It is vital that the extra investment we are putting into the NHS is used to give patients the best possible care, not squandered by a dishonest minority."

Wiktor Maslowski, Minister of Health in Poland said: "We kindly inform that we appreciate the initiated partnership cooperation with the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service. We are convinced that exchanging information as well as elaborating our common position will contribute to the limitation of fraud and corruption occurrences in the European healthcare systems."

Dr Vladimír Palko (PhD), Minister of Interior of the Slovak Republic said  "The NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service has provided an opportunity that will further enhance methods for countering healthcare fraud and corruption within not only our own country, but Europe as a whole. We are proud to be working with them on this initiative."

D. José Enrique Hours Pérez, president of the Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos de Madrid said:   "The European Healthcare Fraud and Corruption Conference provides th ideal opportunity in which to promote best practice in countering healthcare fraud and corruption, the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service should be congratulated on all its hard work in spearheading this initiative."

Christine LÃyer, Head of the AOK (German Healthcare Fraud Prevention Unit) said: "It is necessary to recognise that fraud and corruption is not respectful of country boundaries, nor is it isolated to only certain countries. It is therefore with great delight that we have formed this partnership with the n NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service with the express aim of disseminating best practice and information that will lead to effective methods for countering healthcare fraud and corruption across Europe as a whole."

Martin Bontje, Managing Director of Zorgverzekeraars Nederlands (the Dutch Association of Health Insurers) said:   "The inaugural European Healthcare Fraud and Corruption Conference is a great opportunity to bring to the fore a very pertinent issue for all countries within the European Union, we are very proud to have been involved in this success as a partner of the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management nService, and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them on m the success of all their hard work."

Jim Gee, Chief Executive of the CFSMS said:   "Healthcare fraud is an international as well as a national problem. We need to protect healthcare resources in order to safeguard the health of Europe . Fraudsters do not respect national boundaries and cooperation with our European colleagues is an essential first step. I am proud that CFSMS has taken a lead in this."

Bill Darling, Chair of CFSMS, said: "It is natural that we should cooperate and share our expertise with other countries. Together we are much stronger and better able to make sure that monies intended for healthcare are not lost to fraud."

Delegates with ministerial and executive responsibility for combating healthcare fraud and corruption will be invited from all the 25 member states, as well as other European counter fraud and corruption specialists and those with an interest in this work, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Notes

1. AGIS - named after a king of ancient Sparta - is a framework programme to help police, the judiciary and professionals from the EU member states and candidate countries co-operate in criminal matters and in the fight against crime.     http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/funding/agis/funding_agis_en.htm

2. More information will be made available on www.ehfcc.com - the European Healthcare Counter Fraud and corruption website, which will be live from 16 July 2004

3. The Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS) was established to tackle fraud and corruption throughout the NHS, whether it involves professionals, staff, patients or contractors and to create a lasting anti-fraud culture within the health service.

4. More than 400 professionally trained and accredited Local Counter Fraud Specialists are now in place covering every health body in England and Wales . They are supported by the national and regional Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS).

5. Between 1999 and 2004, counter fraud work cut pharmaceutical patient fraud by 60%, dental patient fraud by 25%, optical patient fraud by 23% and, in some areas, fraud by NHS professionals by 31 - 46%. Fraud detection rates have improved by more than 785% and there is a 97% successful prosecution rate.

6. Counter fraud measures have produced a financial benefit to the NHS of almost GBP478 million, a 13:1 return on its budget, since 1999.

7. To report any incident of suspected fraud in the NHS, please call the Fraud and Corruption Reporting Line on +44-8702-400-100.

8. Further information on the NHS CFSMS can be found at www.cfsms.nhs.uk

(8/7/04)