An organized criminal network that systematically defrauded Greece’s National Healthcare Procurement Organization (EOPYY) through fake prescriptions has been dismantled by the Hellenic Police, with total losses to the public exceeding €405,000. The criminal operation, which went undetected for at least six years, involved 5,429 fraudulently issued prescriptions. Authorities arrested the alleged ringleader, while a total of ten individuals face criminal charges.
Coordinated operation following an EOPYY complaint
After months of investigation by the Economic Crime Prosecution Sub-Directorate of the Organized Crime Division — launched following a formal complaint by EOPYY — a coordinated police operation was carried out on the morning of Thursday, July 2, across multiple areas of Attica, in cooperation with the National Organization for Medicines (EOF). The alleged ringleader of the criminal organization was arrested during the operation, while nine additional individuals have been implicated in the case file, including a psychiatrist, a general practitioner employed at public hospitals, and owners or managers of pharmacies. According to the police investigation, the network had been operating from at least March 2020 through April 2026, having developed a specific methodology to defraud EOPYY.
How the fake prescription racket worked
Members of the organization allegedly used the social security numbers (AMKA) of insured individuals who had not activated the electronic prescription system, ensuring that the rightful beneficiaries would not be notified when prescriptions were issued in their names. The group then proceeded to fraudulently fulfill those prescriptions by forging the signatures of insured patients in order to collect the corresponding reimbursements from EOPYY. At the same time, the pharmaceutical products were allegedly channeled back into the market through the involved pharmacies, generating substantial illegal profits. To date, 5,429 fraudulently issued prescriptions have been identified, and the financial damage to EOPYY is estimated to exceed €405,000.
The evidence
During the searches carried out, police officers located and seized a large volume of incriminating evidence, reflecting the full scale of the operation:
- 240 packages of pharmaceutical products that had been illegally prescribed, including medications containing controlled narcotic substances,
- €1,200 in cash,
- a large number of documents, prescriptions, medical opinions, health booklets, authenticity strips, and drug barcodes,
- a laptop computer,
- a mobile phone, and
- a private passenger vehicle.
Criminal charges have been filed against those involved, covering — depending on individual culpability — participation in a criminal organization, fraud, forgery, false certification, unlawful processing of personal data, money laundering, and violations of narcotics legislation. The arrested individual was brought before the competent prosecutorial authority.
