In a hospital in Odesa region, patients were forced to buy medicines that were supposed to be provided free of charge

The police have served a notice of suspicion of abuse of power to the former head of a hospital in Odesa region.

According to the press service of the National Police of Ukraine, officials of a hospital in Odesa region forced patients to buy medical devices that were supposed to be provided free of charge.

In preparation for ophthalmic surgeries, people were forced to purchase artificial lenses, despite the fact that their cost was already covered by the state. The former acting general director of the medical institution was notified of suspicion over this fact. The detainee faces up to six years in prison.

Based on the reports submitted, the National Health Service of Ukraine reimbursed the hospital, effectively paying for the lenses a second time - this time at the expense of the budget. The cost of one lens could reach several tens of thousands of hryvnias. As a result of such actions, the state suffered losses of almost UAH 3.5 million - this is the amount of money patients were forced to pay for medical devices that they were supposed to receive free of charge.

Investigators are currently checking the involvement of other persons in the implementation of this scheme and similar abuses. If his guilt is proven, the detainee faces imprisonment for a term of three to six years with disqualification to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to three years, with a fine of five hundred to one thousand tax-free minimum incomes.

Last year, a family doctor in Odesa was fined for promising to arrange fictitious inpatient treatment at a city hospital in exchange for a reward. Despite the proven fact of bribery, the doctor got off with a fine.

Кирило Бойко