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New Director-General of the European Healthcare Fraud and Corruption Network Promises to Make It a 'Hands-On' Organisation


    Following her appointment as the new director-general of the
    European Healthcare Fraud and Corruption Network (EHFCN), Marieke
    Koken said today that the network will become more active in 2007 to
    reduce the estimated EUR 30-EUR 100 billion lost to healthcare in
    Europe every year.

    Speaking to delegates at the European Healthcare Fraud and
    Corruption Conference, she enthused about the network being a
    "self-sufficient entity" and said that it is now time to "get down to
    (the) business" of tackling fraud and corruption. She looked forward
    to the time when the network can demonstrate "tangible success in
    tackling the issue".

    Marieke, director of claim control at Zorgverzekeraars Nederland
    (ZN), a sector organisation for the Dutch healthcare insurers, said
    the network will be developing a training database and common training
    syllabus for all counter fraud professionals in the network. She also
    announced that a new guidance manual will be developed in 2007 on how
    to tackle fraud and corruption in healthcare.

    Commenting on the manual, she said: "It will include detection and
    investigation methods for healthcare fraud and corruption, supported
    by case studies showing their success around Europe. With estimations
    saying that at least EUR 30 billion are lost in European healthcare
    every year, we need to be finding and punishing more of these
    criminals and we need to be doing this as quickly as possible."

    Marieke's predecessor Jim Gee, who has stepped down to concentrate
    fully on tackling fraud and corruption in the England and Wales,
    described his pleasure in seeing Marieke takeover:

    "I am pleased to have developed and led the network during the
    period of it establishing itself as a self-funding, independent
    organisation and it is now time for someone else to lead the next
    stage of its development.

    "I could not be leaving the role in safer hands. Marieke has shown
    over the last year her commitment to the network and its aims and
    objectives. I am sure she will do an outstanding job and take this
    important work forward."

    Marieke also revealed the first European Healthcare Fraud and
    Corruption Awareness Campaign will begin on November 9th 2006. The
    month-long campaign will see each member organisation promoting fraud
    and corruption issues across Europe and pushing hard hitting messages
    on the effects of fraud and corruption on healthcare in the media and
    directly to healthcare staff and patients.

    She said that "the network's members will be visiting healthcare
    premises, such as hospitals, and talking directly to staff and
    patients."

    For further information on the network or the campaign visit
    www.ehfcn.org

    Notes to editors

    1. The new Executive Committee are:

    -0-
    *T
    -- Dermid McCausland - President

    Head of Corporate Affairs at the NHS Counter Fraud and Security
    Management Service in England and Wales.

    -- Laura Davies - Vice President

    Head of Research at the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management
    Service (CFSMS) in England and Wales.

    -- Sandra Blagojevic - Vice President

    Council of Europe consultant at the Commission for Prevention of
    Corruption in Slovenia.

    -- Paul Vincke - Deputy Director General and Treasurer

    Director of staff at the service for Medical Evaluation and
    Control (SECM) of the INAMI (National Institution for Health and
    Disability Insurance) in Belgium

    -- Marianne Henriksen - Executive Committee Member

    Senior adviser in the control unit of the Norwegian Labour and
    Welfare service (NAV).

    -- Martin Kreutner - Executive Committee Member

    The Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior's expert for
    corruption combating.

    -- Joel Dessaint - Executive Committee Member

    Finance Director at the French National Health Insurance Fund
    (CNAMTS).

    -- Maria Belen Prado Sanjurjo - Executive Committee Member

    The Vice-Minister of Healthcare and Consumer Affairs of the
    Regional Government of Madrid.
    *T

    2. 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. For further information please contact Darren Aldrich at the
    EHFCN's Interim Office on +44 20 7895 4523.