Hungary: Exposing bribery in return for healthcare

From exposing fraud in the procurement of essential medicines and hospital infrastructure to illegal charges for the delivery of patient care, whistleblowers have helped defend the health sector worldwide in many different ways. In March 2023, for example, Transparency International Hungary’s Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC) received a report from a whistleblower exposing a doctor in a private hospital who regularly requested “gratuities” from his patients, in addition to the standard fees for their medical care. The doctor, an anaesthetist, allegedly asked patients to put an extra 25,000 forint (around US$74) in their hospital room’s bedside table for him to collect.

In response, ALAC staff contacted the whistleblower to obtain their consent for the use of their personal data, then filed a complaint based on the report with the National Protection Authority. Officials were quick to open an investigation, informing Transparency International Hungary they were taking the necessary steps to address the claims. According to Transparency International’s 2021 Global Corruption Barometer – European Union, 18 per cent of people using public hospitals and clinics in Hungary had to pay a bribe during the previous 12 months, making healthcare delivery the sector at the highest risk of bribery in the country. The more people who blow the whistle on medical staff demanding bribes, the sooner Hungary’s people will receive the healthcare they’re entitled to.

Source: Transparency International

https://www.transparency.org/en/blog/whistleblower-stories-individuals-safeguarded-public-interest-exposing-misconduct?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly-17-01-2025

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