Institute of Criminal Justice Studies

Research group helps uncover £160bn in healthcare fraud

Wed, Jan 20, 2010

Research undertaken by Portsmouth's (CCFS), MacIntyre Hudson LLP and the European Healthcare Fraud and Corruption Network (EHFCN) has shown that more than 5% of healthcare expenditure is lost to fraud and error each year.

Globally, this adds up to ?180billion (£159billion), with ?56billion being lost in Europe alone. 

Dr Mark Button, Director of the CCFS and co-author of the research group's report, The financial cost of Healthcare fraud, said "This report provides invaluable information to those planning healthcare expenditure. It shows that fraud is not just a moral or ethical issue but a financial one too - with a serious negative impact on the quality of patient care."

The report finds fraud being committed by healthcare professionals, by their patients, and by the companies that provide drugs and equipment, with examples ranging from misuse of grants to counterfeit diagnostic equipment being installed.  

President of the EHFCN, Paul Vincke, urged action in his foreword to the report: "There is no time to waste. This Report provides credible, accurate information about the financial cost of healthcare fraud. We need to join together to tackle this destructive problem."

Co-authors include Jim Gee, Director of Counter Fraud Services at Maclntyre Hudson LLP, and Graham Brooks, course leader for the Counter Fraud and Counter Corruption Studies MSc at the University of Portsmouth.

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