Kigali: Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has launched an investigation into the falsification of documents to claim payments from Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) by a number of clinics and pharmacies in the Southern Province.
This investigation has led to the arrests of 10 suspects including managers and doctors at Ineza Clinic in Muhanga District, Isezerano Clinic in Nyanza District, Umurage Clinic and the Head of Discipline at Ecole des Sciences Byimana in Ruhango District.
According to the investigation, these clinics’ doctors and managers create ghost patients, mostly from neighboring schools, complete their medical files and prescriptions in order to claim payment from insurance providers, especially RSSB and MMI.
RIB calls upon pharmacies and clinics owners to be vigilant and fulfill all the rules, regulations and procedures to rightfully get payments and other services from medical insurance providers.
Article 276 of the law determining offences and penalties in general states that any person who, with fraudulent intention, produces a false written document, causes to write false statements or produces a conflicting declaration, is considered to commit the offence of forgery.
Upon conviction, the suspects in this case are liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five (5) years but not more than seven (7) years and a fine of not less than three million Rwandan francs (FRW 3,000,000) and not more than five million Rwandan francs (FRW 5,000,000) or only one of these penalties, under this law.
RIB also appeals to the public to desist from these malpractices and follow procedures in accessing medical insurance services. (Fin)