Colombia’s assistant prosecutor general announced Friday that corruption in Colombia’s medical system could earn offenders more than six years in prison, Caracol Radio reported.
Assistant Prosecutor General Juan Carlos Foreno revealed that a new charge will be brought against members of Colombia’s medical system who embezzled or misdirected government funds. The law will apply to anyone who presents false financial documents, manipulates existing fiscal control mechanisms in the medical system, or creates counterfeit drugs or formulas, and will punish wrongdoers with prison time possibly exceeding six years.
Foreno further noted that Colombia has seen a recent growth in medical fraud, and that research conducted by Colombia’s office of embezzlement had found a number of irregularities in medical payments, including false signatures and many Colombians who are currently deceased enrolled in assistance programs and receiving medical care.
“In Colombia,” said Foreno, “many people apparently only receive medical care when they die.”
