18 house searches, and a number of interviews regarding the alleged queue-jumping were performed by the Police as a part of the investigation in the University Medical Centre Ljubljana and the Institute of Oncology. Doctors and intermediaries are allegedly involved. One person was detained.
According to unofficial information, two doctors at the Institute of Oncology supposedly helped a female patient jump queue, while an intermediary was assuring to patients that it was within his power to help patients, as he knew the doctors. Some information point that this person is an employee of the University Medical Centre.
As reported by TV Slovenija in the Dnevnik news programme, the surgeon Erik Brecelj had reported the abuse of his name. One of the employees of the Ljubljana University Medical Centre acting as an intermediary, allegedly in close connection with the former director of the institute Simon Vrhunc, was supposedly arranging for patients to jump queues. He had promised a surgery by Brecelj in exchange for € 20,000. It is not known whether also the other doctors were supposedly given the money, but it seems that the bribery has been going on for quite some time.
18 house searches, one person detained
45 criminal investigators and policemen from the Ljubljana Police Administration had made 18 house searches, and a number of interviews and hearings. One person was detained for up to 48 hours.
According to unofficial information, the investigation took place at the Division of Gynaecology, Division of Internal Medicine, and Surgery Division of the Ljubljana University Medical Centre. The number of doctors under investigation is not known, presumably five to ten doctors are involved.
We learned from unofficial sources that the Police got on their track by secretly listening to the intermediary assuring he knew doctors and could thus shorten the waiting period for patients. Some information show that this person is employed by the University Medical Centre.
Sparing with words
According to the press release by the Ljubljana University Medical Centre, they are fully cooperating with the criminal investigators, and they will present all the demanded records regarding queues due to the waiting periods; they are not able to disclose more at the moment. The presence of criminal investigators was confirmed also by the Institute of Oncology: "The Institute of Oncology is cooperating with prosecuting authorities; for the moment we are not able to comment." "We can confirm that the Police is performing certain activities as pre-trial investigation of the suspected officially prosecutable criminal acts," Maja Ciperle Adlešič stated. Due to secrecy of proceedings no additional information is given.
Ministry supports the investigation
Minister of Health Milojka Kolar Celarc in her response wrote that she has been advocating zero tolerance against corruption through her entire term, and is supporting the investigations. "Judging by the information at our disposal of the criminal investigations within the Ljubljana University Medical Centre and the Institute of Oncology, we believe individual persons are investigated who had been promising, or arranging queue-jumping in exchange for monetary gain. There is no system, no matter how good it is, which could prevent such actions; they must be prosecuted!" they wrote.
They expect the transparency regarding the queues due to the waiting periods will increase once the new system eNaročanje is implemented in January, along with certain changes in legislation.
