The police arrested 3 pharmacists this week and detained a doctor for questioning on suspicion that they were involved in cases of the administration of expired oncology drugs to oncology patients at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa. The arrest of the three pharmacists was extended on Tuesday in the Magistrate’s Court in Acre.
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Perception of drugs suspected of being counterfeit during arrests
(Photo: Israel Police)
At the center of the affair, which was revealed in the Yedioth Ahronoth investigation in early 2020, there was a suspicion that during the years 2016-17, the oncology department at Rambam provided expired drugs to cancer patients. The court ordered the police to end their investigation, which lasted about two years.
Police noted this week that in the past two years, through the Coastal District Fraud Unit along with the Ministry of Health and the Tax Authority, an intensive and complex investigation has been conducted in which evidence has been collected. Preliminary findings from the investigation raise suspicion that the dates and batch numbers of drugs transferred to the medical staff were falsified, as well as additional actions were taken on expired drugs, in order to hide their obsolescence and to deceive the expiration dates.
The pharmacists arrested are a resident of Peki’in (59) and a resident of Shefar’am (39). The doctor who was detained for questioning is a resident of Kiryat Bialik (38). Another detainee, owner of a private pharmacy, resident of Majd al-Krum (52). Among the suspicions are violations of the Pharmacy Law, forgery, negligent handling of drugs, receiving anything fraudulently, omitting income and managing false account books intentionally and with intent to evade tax and more. Searches at pharmacies and the owner’s home turned up account books and documents linking the suspects to tax offenses. The detention of the three was extended.
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A lion and Shuli sow with a picture of the late son Agam
(Photo: Sharon Tzur)
Rambam stated this week that “the hospital is accompanied in this matter by the Civil Prosecutor’s Office in Haifa and is acting in accordance with its guidelines. “Naturally, Rambam is not involved in the investigative actions of the Israel Police, beyond responding to requests for the transfer of information and various details. We are prevented from expanding and responding to the issue as long as the investigative and legal process is in progress.”
Yedioth Haifa accompanies the families of the victims in the case in their struggle to obtain information about what happened in the Rambam Oncology Department. The families, through Adv. Zvi Yelink, filed petitions against the hospital, the Ministry of Health and the police, Their loved ones were treated, what did the hospital know, at what stage was information transferred to the Ministry of Health, and what actions were taken following the affair. Families seek justice, punish those responsible, and especially prevent the recurrence of similar cases in other places.
Assaf Elbaz, the father of 7-year-old Naor: “I take things very seriously, and I hope that those responsible will be punished severely. I have a gut feeling that there are other elements who will know and are complicit in the crime. Let him come now and explain what he knew. Those affected here are the families and children who have apparently died or are now suffering in these moments. It was right to come and tell us that the issue is under investigation but they did not. This is a public hospital that belongs to me and you. We deserve answers. “
Shlomit Zora, her mother, the late 7.5-year-old Agam: “I have always been optimistic. I hope the line of inquiry and the pursuit of justice will continue. I’m going to be very into things to understand what happened there. I am satisfied with the work of the police. I have no expectation from the hospital. I expect people to take responsibility for their actions, and that the matter will not be repeated. “
Michal Hershko, 18-year-old mother of Noam waiting for a heart transplant: “When I heard about the arrests, I burst into tears, especially when my son’s condition is more serious. Noam is on the waiting list for a heart transplant. I hope justice is served and someone tells us what happened.
“In the meantime, no one is talking to us. The hospital director promised to meet with each family and look them in the eye and it was not. The fact that they transferred us from Maimonides for follow-up in Tel Hashomer tells me that we are stuck in their throats. When something like this happens you expect them to be with us, to accompany us, it did not happen. We received a letter of apology from Maimonides, but refused to speak or meet with us. They were caught with their pants down. We hope that now everything will allow information to be received. We are dealing with Noam’s repeated hospitalizations today, At the required rate. The feelings are hard. The child barely walks four steps because he has heart failure. The responsibility does not stop at S.G.
.