Odesa region investigates procurement of medical equipment at inflated prices

In Odesa region, law enforcement officers are investigating the possible embezzlement of budget funds in a medical institution through the purchase of equipment and alleged fraud with patient data. The investigation is interested in the sharp increase in funding for certain NHS packages - some amounts have increased more than tenfold.

This was reported by the Center for Public Investigations.

According to the investigation, in 2024-2025, officials of the Central District Hospital of the Safianivka Village Council could purchase endoscopic systems, laser lithotriptors, sterilization equipment and other equipment at prices that were significantly higher than market prices. Currently, law enforcement officers are checking the possible involvement of officials in the embezzlement of budget funds during procurement from private companies.

Investigators are also looking into a possible scheme to artificially increase the number of medical services under the NHSU medical guarantee program. According to the case file, funding for some packages showed an abnormal increase. For example, in the area of "Same-day inpatient surgery", the figure increased by 1460%, and in the area of "Colonoscopy" - by 905%.

The investigation suggests that such results could have been achieved by entering information about patients who were not actually treated into the electronic healthcare system. According to law enforcement officers, the funds could have been further drawn down through purchases of equipment from controlled companies.

The court allowed investigators to access information about patients who used the hospital's services in 2024-2025, with the right to seize electronic copies of documents. The ruling will be valid until July 6, 2026 and is not subject to appeal.

Earlier, Intent wrote that law enforcement officers found more than 100 cases of entering data on patients who died several weeks or even months before the alleged hospital visit.

The medical institution also reported a significant number of operations to install artificial lenses. In 2024, the hospital declared 812 such interventions, and in 2025 - another 537 as of August. For comparison, the regional hospital performs about 300 such operations annually.

Анна Бальчінос