Greek Pharmacist, Ex-Candidate, Faces Court Over Alleged EOYPY Fraud Ring

A pharmacist, who previously ran as a parliamentary candidate for PASOK, has been brought before a prosecutor in Piraeus, Greece. He is accused of being a ringleader in a systematic fraud scheme targeting the National Organization for the Provision of Healthcare (EOYPY) through fictitious prescriptions.

Authorities have dismantled a criminal network involving doctors and pharmacists, with the former candidate's arrest marking a significant development. The organization is alleged to have operated for at least six years, causing financial damage exceeding 405,000 euros to EOYPY. Investigators have identified 5,429 fake prescriptions linked to the scheme.

The case file also includes nine other individuals, including a psychiatrist, a public hospital family doctor, and pharmacy owners and managers. The group's method involved identifying and using the AMKA numbers of insured individuals who had not activated their digital prescription services. This allowed them to issue fake prescriptions without the patients receiving any notification, making the fraud difficult to detect.

Subsequently, the organization's members allegedly forged the signatures of unsuspecting patients, filled the prescriptions at cooperating pharmacies, and collected reimbursements from EOYPY. The illicitly obtained medications were then distributed through illegal channels.