Did you know?

Fraud and corruption in the healthcare sector are often hard to detect. To give an accurate picture of the extent of the problem at European level is even harder as heathcare systems differ from country to country. Additionally, offices and units to counter healthcare fraud have only been established recently in some countries and do not even exist in others. However, here are some facts, figures and statistical information about the extent of the problem.

• Annual healthcare spending across the 27 countries of the European Union totals approximately one trillion Euros. 
• Between 3% and 11% of GDPs are spent on healthcare in European countries
  
• It is conservatively estimated that approximately 56 billion Euros are lost annually to fraud and error alonoe within the European Union.
• Considering the most conservative estimate only, the price tag to healthcare fraud and corruption is of at least €80 million every day in the European Union.

• Conservative estimates of healthcare fraud losses total more than the GDP of European countries such as Latvia, Estonia, Cyprus or Iceland (World Bank figures) [1]

• Fraud and corruption in the healthcare sector occurs in any systems, whether they are predominantly public or private, well funded or poorly funded, and technically simple or sophisticated [2]

• In France, the "Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Maladie des Travailleurs Salariés - CNAMTS" (National Health Insurance Fund) estimated that their net savings generated in 2008 by their counter-fraud programme amounted to over €130 million. Since 2005, almost €360 million net savings have been achieved.
  

• In Scotland, around £21 million (€24 million) in net savings have been generated by NHSScotland Counter Fraud Services between July 2000 and March 2009.”
  

  
  

  ---