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Adela Danaj
The end of ‘’madness’’?
The Health Ministry has published no news on its official website during June 2015. Many alternatives pass through our minds: 1) Said ministry has had no important event to publish and if so, what has the ministry done during a month in which scandals have been nothing but small? 2) Fatigue from the last electoral campaign must have tired so much the minister and his subordinates, so they have decided to take a month break before real summer holidays start. 3) The stealing of the refunded drugs scheme scandal, might have pushed the minister to reflect, that maybe it’s not the time to go in vain with his ministry’s accomplishments.
However, whatever the reason, APPA, shrugs in front of a situation like this, at a time where print media the most and visual media the least, have reported an unprecedent case related to drug abuse.
On May 21st, former PM Mr. Sali Berisha, stated in parliament that the health system is involved in a big scandal, where an abuse of 1.5 billion ALL has occurred. Minister Beqaj accepted the case and immediately started the investigations at the prosecution office. It is supposed that this case has functioned due to a well-organized scheme that consists in importing drugs in Albania through false recipes from inexistent pharmaceutical companies earning huge amounts of money, mostly for drugs used for serious deseases. The Health Minister hasn’t denied this scandal. It is even suspected that the World Health Organization has started an investigation about it. It is assumed that the long list of drugs got refunded before the drugs would come in Albania, because false refund recipes were given for huge amounts of drugs that entered Albania few months later.
Seems surprising how in front of such events, the only reaction of the minister is agreeing to it and not publishing the case in any social media or official website. Maybe this case is less important to the citizens than any new machine inauguration at some random health center. However, the publishing or not of the news is not the main objective of this report. It would be only if the case would have been solved, the real responsible would have been found, and would have had the right punishment and a solution and a guarantee would have been given to the citizens that something like this never happens in the future.
Arrested until now:
- Xhuvani, FDKSH Director
- Mara, Lawyer at the Regional Fund Directorate
- Mahmutaj, Employee at the Regional Fund Directorate
- Roci, “Lunder” Drug Store administrator
- Tufi, Technical Director “Lunder” Drug Store
- Thanasi, Technical Director “Nutrimed” Drug Store
- Spahiu, Technical Director “Berzhite” Drug Store
- Manaj, Technical Director “Adelina” Drug Store
Meanwhile, the theft through the drug refund scheme, besides prosecution, it is expected to continue with dismissal. After this scandal combination, the Insurance Fund Health Care Director Astrit Beci resigned, meanwhile the commanding director, Milva Ikonomi, is expected to set administrative measures provided for the implicated personnel, amongst others the deputy director Sokol Skuraj.
For this occasion, Minsiter Beqaj attitude is to be congratulated, since he explained that prosecution and administrative measures would continue at the central and regional fund level. After the investigations, the minister stated that not only the prosecution office, but even the ministry will get measures for those implicated in the illegal refund scheme.
References:
1- Ministria e Shëndetësisë: http://www.shendetesia.gov.al/al/newsroom/lajme
2- Gazeta Mapo. Qershor 2015. Skandal me ilaçet, ja si funksiononte skema e mashtrimit.
http://www.mapo.al/2015/05/skandal-me-ilacet-ja-si-funksiononte-skema-e-mashtrimit
3- Gazeta Mapo. Qershor 2015. Skandali i ilaçeve! Pranga edhe Xhuvanit, drejtor i FDKSH.
http://www.mapo.al/2015/06/skandali-i-ilaceve-10-zyrtare-e-pronare-farmacish-ne-pranga
4- Gazeta Mapo. Qershor 2015.Skandali i ilaçeve, përgatitet largimi i Sokol Skurajt.
http://www.mapo.al/2015/06/skandali-i-ilaceve-pergatitet-largimi-i-sokol-skurajt
5- Gazeta Panorama. Qershor 2015. Skandali i barnave, ILKDP nis hetimet te Sigurimet.
http://www.panorama.com.al/skandali-i-barnave-ildkp-nis-hetimin-te-sigurimet/