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:
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-- 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.
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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.
