Charité senior physician under suspicion of corruption

Berlin Charité: Investigations against senior physician for corruption

03/26/2014

Against a senior physician of the Berlin Charité is determined for corruption. He is said to have received gifts from a pharmacist and in return sent his patients to the pharmacist. Also against the pharmacist is determined.

Investigations against doctor and pharmacist
According to numerous press reports against a senior physician of the Berlin Charité is determined for corruption. He is said to have referred his patients to a certain pharmacy in the district of Prenzlauer Berg in order to buy expensive anticancer drugs there. In return, he received expensive bribe gifts. A few days ago, the doctor's office on the campus campus, private homes, a tax office and the suspected pharmacy were searched. The prosecution investigate against the doctor and the pharmacist for corruption or bribery.

Gifts worth tens of thousands of euros
For years, the pharmacist is said to have paid the physician electronic office equipment such as projectors worth several tens of thousands of euros. During the searches numerous proofs had been provided by the police. According to press reports, the deal flowed after the pharmacist wanted to deduct the bribes for the office equipment from the tax. The responsible tax office had become suspicious because of the striking donation receipts and informed the judiciary. A spokesman for the Charité confirmed the investigation and said the prosecutor support and cooperation in full.

Doctors collect catches
Again and again authorities are active because of corruption or suspicion. In 2012, for example, state prosecutorial investigations against cancer physicians, pharmacists and pharmaceutical manufacturers were initiated nationwide. Oncologists were then accused of receiving fees for prescribing certain cancer drugs. In the same year, a study commissioned by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance found that many doctors called „Fang premiums“ to transfer patients to certain clinics or colleagues. Similar allegations had been made years before. (Sb)