GARDAÍ HAVE launched an investigation into a suspected fraud at two Co Cork pharmacies where the Health Service Executive (HSE) may have paid out millions of euro on false prescription claims.
Detectives from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and local detectives raided the two pharmacies in Co Cork and seized a large quantity of documentation relating to claims made to the HSE for the dispensing of various prescriptions going back a number of years.
The Irish Timesunderstands that while drugs and medicines were dispensed to the patients in keeping with each of the prescriptions, the claims which were then submitted by the pharmacies were for quantities far in excess of what was actually dispensed.
According to one informed source, the investigation covers a period going back several years and the sums involved may run into several million euro given the high volume of prescriptions being dispensed by the pharmacies in question.
It is understood that up to 12 gardaí were involved in the raids which were carried out under warrant.
The large quantity of documentation that was seized is now being examined by officers both in Cork and Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation headquarters in Dublin.
Pharmacists are paid a combination of fees and allowances by the HSE for the dispensing of medicines under a number of schemes including the General Medical Services Scheme, the Drugs Payment Scheme and the Long Term Illness Scheme.
There are set fees under each scheme for various categories of medications and prescriptions with the 1,660 participating pharmacists nationwide receiving a total of €440 million in dispensing fees and mark-ups in 2008.
The HSE in a statement declined to comment when questioned about its decision to refer the claims by the two Cork pharmacies to An Garda Síochána but it did outline its general policy on checking on payments to pharmacists.
“If the HSE becomes aware of any inappropriate conduct by a pharmacist, it will thoroughly investigate the matter and work with any other relevant authorities in this regard.
“In the context of more than €2 billion being reimbursed to community pharmacies under the State drug schemes and in line with good accountability, the HSE has dedicated additional resources to carry out a range of inspections, some of which are randomly selected,” the HSE said.
Pharmacists are currently in dispute with the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, over her plans to reform the scheme for payments for drugs and medicines which have doubled since 2002 and totalled more than €1.68 billion in 2008.
