A major corruption scandal has emerged in Kyiv’s medical sector, where a head of a psychiatric department and his colleague were apprehended for extortion. According to the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office, the medical staff demanded $25,000 from a patient seeking legal recognition of their disability.
The investigation revealed that the patient, who suffers from legitimate mental health conditions, was approached by the department head. The doctor insisted that for the patient to successfully navigate the disability certification process, they would need to undergo a 150-day inpatient treatment period. The fee for this “service” was set at a staggering $25,000, with the doctor citing “difficult times” as the justification for the illicit payment.
To execute the scheme, the department head enlisted the help of a psychiatrist from the same unit. Her role involved processing the necessary medical documentation, managing the patient’s records, and acting as a conduit for the bribery demands. In an attempt to avoid detection, the doctors instructed the money to be left in a fire cabinet within the hospital building. Both individuals were arrested by law enforcement shortly thereafter.
The suspects have been officially charged under Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. A court has ordered them to be held in custody with the option of bail set at 3 million UAH each. If convicted, the medical professionals face up to 12 years in prison, accompanied by a permanent ban on holding specific professional positions and full property confiscation.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the persistent corruption risks within Ukraine’s disability certification system, particularly during the ongoing war. Such actions not only constitute a severe criminal offense but also undermine the integrity of the medical profession and public trust in healthcare institutions. As the investigation continues, authorities are working to determine if other staff members were involved in this illicit operation, highlighting the government’s broader efforts to root out corruption in state-run medical facilities.