Players
Healthcare systems are prone to fraud and corruption because of the large number of players involved and because they can interact in many and complex ways. Based on a report from Transparency International [1] these players can be classified into five main categories:
- Government regulators (health ministries, parliaments, specialized commissions)
- Financers (social security institutions, government office, public and private insurers)
- Healthcare providers (hospitals, doctors, pharmacists)
- Patients
- Suppliers (medical equipment and pharmaceutical companies)
The number of players increases the difficulties of producing and analysing information and identifying fraud and corruption when it occurs. It also increases the number of opportunities for corruption; for example, funds can be diverted at a ministry, state hospital board, or local clinic by individuals working as managers, procurement officers, health professionals, dispenser, clerks or patients.
Footnotes
- Global Corruption Report 2006, Transparency International, 2006
