Several Ukrainian medical institutions have been raided on suspicion of large-scale embezzlement of budget funds. The case involves fraudulent use of the Medical Guarantee Program, which is coordinated by the Ministry of Health. According to preliminary estimates, the amount of damage is in the millions of hryvnias.
As investigators found, managers and individual employees of medical institutions in 2024 signed contracts with the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) and entered false information into the electronic health care system. The reports mentioned thousands of allegedly provided medical services that did not actually occur.
In this way, hospitals “embezzled” state funds, receiving monthly funding for fictitiously treated patients. This is a suspicion of a crime under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — “Establishment or embezzlement of property in especially large amounts.”.
Investigators of the Bureau of Economic Security, together with the Department of Strategic Investigations of the National Police and under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General's Office, conducted dozens of searches — both in medical facilities and at the residences of their employees.
During the investigation, the primary documentation on the basis of which the National Health Service (NHS) payments were made was seized. These documents became the formal basis for the payment of budget funds for “treatment” that was not actually provided.
The investigation is not only focused on specific medical institutions. Law enforcement officers are also investigating the possible involvement of officials from the National Health Service of Ukraine and the Ministry of Health, who may have known or been involved in recording false data and coordinating payments.
This is the national budget program “Implementation of the Program of State Guarantees of Medical Care for the Population.” It was within the framework of this program that Ukrainian hospitals received significant funds from the budget in 2024.
The investigation is still ongoing. Law enforcement officers are looking into dozens of other healthcare facilities that may have operated in a similar manner. Law enforcement officers are preparing to file charges against the first suspects in the case.
The Ministry of Health is not currently officially commenting on the situation.
