Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission operates intensive reporting period for violations of medical law
Detection of unlicensed medical practice and false submission by medical personnel
It was found that there was a serious leakage of public finances due to irregularities in supply and demand at nursing hospitals.
The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission announced on the 12th that it operated an intensive reporting period for public interest infringements in violation of the Medical Service Act and detected unlicensed medical practice, false submission of medical personnel and working hours, operation of a hospital by an office manager, and inflating the number of patients.
An internal medicine clinic in Seoul recruited patients through a broker, and after hours, non-medical personnel performed lifting procedures. And the doctor defrauded the patient of medical treatment benefits by claiming that he had treated ‘seborrhea of the scalp.’ 104 people, including doctors, brokers, two unlicensed practitioners, and 100 fake patients, were put on trial.
Cases of receiving medical care benefits by pretending to work by borrowing a doctor’s or nurse’s license were also discovered. A hospital in Gyeonggi Province paid 300,000 to 500,000 won to five nurses in the name of license rental fees and pocketed 1.6 billion won worth of nursing care benefits by pretending that they worked in a closed psychiatric ward.
It was revealed that a nursing hospital in Jeollabuk-do received medical licenses on loan and pretended to hire more doctors than were actually working, thereby illegally receiving nursing care benefits and defrauding a total of 25.8 billion won.
An oriental medicine clinic in Incheon was caught defrauding hundreds of millions of won in nursing care benefits by treating 163 patients over a three-month period and pretending to treat 2,472 patients.
The Civil Rights Commission will operate an intensive reporting period for violations of medical law until the 21st of this month.
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Interview between Alex Rivera, Editor of Time.news, and Dr. Mina Lee, Healthcare Compliance Expert
Alex Rivera: Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Lee. The recent findings from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission are quite alarming. Can you summarize the scope of the irregularities discovered related to medical law violations?
Dr. Mina Lee: Thank you for having me, Alex. Yes, the results released by the Commission have uncovered severe breaches in medical law, targeting issues such as unlicensed medical practices and falsification of medical engagement. It seems there has been a pattern where certain clinics and hospitals exploited loopholes, inflating patient numbers, and engaging in fraudulent billing for services not rendered.
Alex Rivera: One particularly troubling case involved a clinic in Seoul, where a broker was used to recruit patients, and non-medical staff performed procedures. How typical or extreme are these findings within the broader context of healthcare compliance?
Dr. Mina Lee: While fraudulent practices are not unheard of in healthcare, the scale and audacity of these operations are shocking. The systematic nature of this fraud—like using brokers for patient recruitment and impersonating licensed medical personnel—indicates a deep-rooted issue in enforcement and compliance within these medical facilities. It highlights the need for stricter oversight and better reporting mechanisms.
Alex Rivera: In your opinion, what contributes to such widespread malpractices within the healthcare sector?
Dr. Mina Lee: Several factors can lead to such widespread issues. There is often a drive for profit in private healthcare, which can tempt some operators to cut corners. Additionally, insufficient regulatory oversight creates an environment where fraud can flourish. The low reporting rates of violations suggest that many individuals may feel disempowered to speak out against such practices.
Alex Rivera: The report also detailed cases involving a psychiatric ward and the fraudulent receiving of benefits by ‘borrowing’ medical licenses. How do these actions impact patient trust in the system?
Dr. Mina Lee: These actions can severely damage public trust. Patients assume that their healthcare is being administered by qualified professionals in compliance with legal standards. When they learn that unlicensed individuals are conducting procedures or that healthcare benefits are being fraudulently claimed, it creates a climate of fear and skepticism. Trust is foundational in the healthcare system, and incidents like these erode that trust.
Alex Rivera: The Commission is running an intensive reporting period until the end of the month to address these violations. What steps should be taken to ensure that these reporting periods are effective?
Dr. Mina Lee: Increased public awareness is essential. The Commission should launch educational campaigns to inform the public about their rights and the correct channels for reporting violations. Additionally, safeguarding the anonymity of whistleblowers can encourage more people to come forward. Regular audits and a more robust monitoring system within healthcare facilities can also stem future violations.
Alex Rivera: Thank you, Dr. Lee. Your insights into these serious issues are invaluable as we continue to monitor the situation. Hopefully, we will see improvements in compliance and greater protections for patients moving forward.
Dr. Mina Lee: Thank you, Alex. I hope so too—it is vital for the integrity of our healthcare system.
Alex Rivera: And thank you all for tuning in to this discussion. We will continue to follow the developments in this story and keep you informed. Stay safe and informed.