Authorities uncovered widespread irregularities in pharmacy operations, including improper drug dispensing practices and claims for deceased patients, the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) revealed.
An investigation found pharmacies submitting reimbursement claims before dispensing medications to patients and filing claims for drugs that were out of stock, HIO Director Konstantinos Panayides told Phileleftheros.
“During inspections of GeSY pharmacies, we identified various issues that need addressing, as drug waste often creates problems in properly serving patients,” Panayides said.
The investigation revealed cases where pharmacies serving nursing homes failed to verify patient data properly, resulting in medication being dispensed under the names of deceased beneficiaries.
The HIO highlighted four major areas of concern in its operations:
- Pharmacies claiming reimbursement for all prescribed medications without actually supplying them to beneficiaries, violating healthcare regulations that require claims only for dispensed items.
- Improper prescription handling by pharmacies working with nursing homes and other institutions, leading to significant waste.
- Incorrect dispensing of medications to wrong beneficiaries due to inadequate identification verification processes.
- Premature submission of reimbursement claims for medical supplies before their actual distribution to beneficiaries.
The organisation emphasised that pharmacists must follow proper verification procedures, including checking beneficiary identification details, confirming nursing home residency status, monitoring existing stock levels, and tracking any changes in prescribed medications.
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