The Ministry of Health and Welfare asked police to investigate six medical institutions suspected of luring cancer patients by offering so-called "payback," a method of returning part of the medical bill to patients.
The task force on abnormal and fake treatments at the ministry said on the 1st that it asked police to investigate six medical institutions suspected of engaging in patient solicitation and brokerage. The targets are two hospitals, three long-term care hospitals, and one Korean medicine hospital.
Payback refers to the act of a medical institution luring patients by refunding part of the medical bill after the fact or providing monetary benefits. The Medical Service Act prohibits medical institutions from soliciting or brokering patients.
The request for investigation follows the first probe results by the task force launched in June. The task force conducted on-site inspections from the 23rd of last month on medical institutions where payback suspicions were raised through the media and elsewhere.
During the investigation, the ministry said it also confirmed indications that some medical institutions hindered the probe by reporting temporary closures or shutdowns immediately after the investigation began. The task force compiled the findings and related indications and referred all six of the institutions investigated to law enforcement.
The ministry is selecting targets for investigation based on tips, National Health Insurance big data, and media reports, and it plans to sequentially investigate medical institutions where additional tips are received.