Scorpions hot on docs' tails

2003-11-25 21:47

Anesca Smith

Cape Town - The Scorpions are hot on the heels of doctors and members of the department of corrections services who file false medical claims for which the government must foot the bill.

Commissioner Linda Mti, national chief of prisons, said the department managed to recoup R20m in the past year since it had called in the help of the Scorpions and a top South African audit firm.

One doctor has been arrested and several correctional services officials may lose their jobs once the investigation is completed.

However, Mti said they suspected the fraud that had been uncovered was only the tip of the iceberg and more arrests were expected.

"There are still doctors who are persisting with these types of malpractices, despite warnings. However, we are slowly, but surely, turning the screws."

The Jali Commission found evidence last year of widespread corruption among medical service providers.

Paid out R2.2bn in contributions

Mti was reacting on Tuesday to the latest annual report from auditor-general Shauket Fakie, in which he complained he could not check the validity of the department's medical expenditure for the second year running.

The department had paid out about R2.2bn in member contributions to Medcor since 1999, despite the fact there was no agreement between the two parties.

Fakie said the department also did not have a system in place to measure the accuracy of the monthly contributions to Medcor.

- Die Burger