European Healthcare Fraud and Corruption Network Protects 210 Million Citizens, Says Director General

At the opening of the third European Healthcare Fraud and
Corruption Conference in Madrid, Jim Gee set out the achievements of
the European Healthcare Fraud and Corruption Network (EHFCN) - the
first organisation ever set up to tackle healthcare fraud and
corruption across Europe.

He told the audience at the third annual European Healthcare Fraud
and Corruption Conference in Madrid that 22 organisations representing
14 countries and 210 million citizens all over Europe have joined the
network in the last year and a further 37 organisations from 19 are
considering becoming members.

Should these potential members join, he said the EHFCN would
become even more "influential and powerful" in combating fraud and
corruption.

He also praised the Caisse Nationale de l'Assurance Maladie in
(CNAMTS) France, which has set up its very own Fraud Prevention and
Litigation Directorate from scratch since January 2006. He said that
other organisations should look to CNAMTS as a "road map" for future
success in tackling fraud and corruption and also especially praised
the work being taken forward by the Ministry of Health in Poland.

Jim also sent a clear warning to healthcare organisations without
protection from fraud and corruption:

"For long-term prosperity, healthcare organisations must be
proactive in tackling the problem. Sitting back and waiting for fraud
to happen will only lead to further losses and a reduced standard of
care. This could lead to patients being sick for longer, and in some
cases, patients dying unnecessarily because they do not receive the
care they need.

With estimates indicating that at least EUR 30 billion is lost
across Europe each year, this is not an issue that can wait until next
year or the year after. Organisations must do something about it now
and those that have taken action are already spending more money on
healthcare provision as a result. The EHFCN represents a real
opportunity to protect Europe's healthcare systems from fraud and
corruption so that they can properly protect the health of the people
of Europe."

In attendance at this year's conference in Melia Castilla Hotel in
Madrid will be leading figures from healthcare and law enforcement
agencies from all over Europe and the world. Speakers include Jaclyn
Zappacosta, Legal Attache at the FBI's Healthcare Fraud Unit and Dora
Akumyili of Nigeria's National Food Agency for Food and Drugs
Administration.

Notes to Editors

1. The EHFCN's primary objective is reducing fraud and corruption
in healthcare throughout Europe. Counter fraud and counter corruption
healthcare organisations from across Europe are members of the EHFCN.

3. In England and Wales, where the National Health Service has
been tackling this problem for six years, it has reduced losses to
fraud and corruption by up to 55% and produced financial benefits of
over GBP 670 million (EUR 1 billion) to be spent on better patient
care.

2. For further information please contact Darren Aldrich at the
NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service in England on +44
7789653263 or Jose Maria Lopez Mazuela at the Colegio Oficial de
Famaceuticos de Madrid on +34 91 404 84 97.