A corruption scheme involving two unit heads of the Florești district hospital was uncovered by officers of the National Anticorruption Center and prosecutors of Balti. According to investigators, the two officials allegedly asked for and accepted money from patients for various medical services, thus violating their professional duties, IPN reports.

The anticorruption officers carried out over 20 searches in Chisinau, Balti and Florești, in medical institutions, diagnostic centers and pharmaceutical companies. They seized money, drafts and electronic information storage devices.

The officers established that the suspects acted together with other people from the healthcare system, getting involved in acts of corruption and traffic of influence. They facilitated the issuance of medical certificates necessary to establish degrees of disability, without the patients being physically examined.

It was also determined that the doctors involved referred patients to particular private diagnostic centers for medical examinations, receiving a commission of 15% of each service provided. A similar scheme was applied in the case of medical prescriptions, patients being sent to buy medicines only from particular economic agents, and doctors received money in exchange for these recommendations.

The authorities continue the investigations to establish the extent of the scheme and all the persons involved.