Seven Latvian medics face prosecution for systematic graft

The Latvian Corruption Prevention Bureau is seeking a criminal prosecution of seven medical employees of Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital for soliciting and accepting bribes for a long period of time.

According to the materials of an investigation, which was started in 2015, the seven medics accused of corruptive practices are employees of the diagnostic radiology departments of the hospital's oncological center and Gailezers inpatient center, local media reported.

The investigation conducted by the Corruption Prevention Bureau established that a number of medical employees had been abusing their office powers to allow some patients skip the long waiting lines to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests in exchange for bribes.

The illegal practices had been going on at the diagnostic radiology departments from October 2013 to April 2015.

The hospital's pricelist shows that MRI tests can cost between 100 and 200 euros, and appointments to these tests are recorded in an electronic system. The hospital's administration has launched an in-house inquiry to determine how the medics managed to cheat the electronic system.

The Corruption Prevention Bureau has asked the law enforcement authorities to prosecute seven persons, including four doctors, in connection with the corruption case.

Two of the suspects, a radiologist and a medical nurse, no longer work at the hospital.

The suspects may be jailed for three to five years if found guilty. Endit