’19,000 cases processed”: the Ministry of Health answers whether corruption in the MSEC can be overcome
The number of complaints about possible corruption in medical and social expert commissions (MSECs) has increased significantly. This was stated by Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine and Chief Medical Officer, in an interview with BBC Ukraine.
When asked whether it is possible to overcome corruption in the MSEC system and how the Ministry of Health plans to ensure that disability groups cannot be bought, Kuzin stressed that the department is actively cooperating with law enforcement agencies to counteract corruption.
‘We see reports, complaints, we see them before they become public,’ he said.
The deputy minister explained that the increase in the number of complaints is due to the growing workload of the MSEC, but the agency has already done a lot of work to combat corruption.
‘But at the same time, we have worked on almost 19,000 cases together with law enforcement agencies to eliminate any possible corruption,’ Kuzin said.
He also clarified that the cases currently being discussed in the media are the result of the completion of investigations into the activities of the MSEK suspects.
“We understand that there are still elements like that unfortunate case (in Khmelnytsky region – Ed.). But the Ministry of Health is really a clear follower and adherent to the principles of the law,” Kuzin said.
In addition, he noted that a concept for the development of the MSEC system has already been developed and there is a draft law that aims to resolve problematic aspects. Kuzin expressed hope that after its adoption, corrupt ‘elements’ would be eliminated from the system.
