Massive Scam: 40,000 fake prescriptions defraud Greek Health Fund of €1.2 million
Greek authorities have uncovered a major health fraud scheme involving more than 40,000 fake drug prescriptions, costing the state healthcare system at least €1.2 million.
Police arrested seven people on Tuesday as part of a large-scale operation targeting the illegal network.
A total of 15 suspects have been named in the case, which has been under investigation since 2017 by the financial crimes unit and the National Organization for Health Care Services (EOPYY).
At the heart of the scam were two pharmacy owners, identified by police as the key masterminds. Others involved include a pharmacy employee, a pathologist, and a general practitioner. The network used stolen personal data from ordinary citizens to issue fake prescriptions, which were then billed to the state health fund.
Raids on pharmacies, homes, doctors' offices, and warehouses in the Athens area and Corinth region led to the seizure of more than 17,000 boxes of medicines, including powerful prescription narcotics. Authorities also found evidence related to money laundering, illegal drug trafficking, and even weapons possession.
“This is not just a financial crime—it’s a serious public health threat,” said one police official involved in the investigation. “People’s personal data was used without consent, and medicines were distributed illegally.”
The investigation continues, and more arrests may follow as authorities work to dismantle the network completely.
