The federal government paid out 213 million Swiss francs incorrectly for coronavirus tests during the pandemic, prompting the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) to commission a new investigative mandate to review past billing records, 20min.ch reported.
Auditors Recover Millions in Fraudulent Testing Funds
- Audit Scope: A specialized firm has been retained for a multi-year audit to detect fraudulent, duplicated, or unperformed COVID-19 tests billed to the Swiss government.
- Financial Recovery: Authorities have already reclaimed 23.3 million Swiss francs out of the 213 million francs flagged in ongoing investigations across 322 suspicious cases.
The Ongoing Investigation into Pandemic Testing Claims
BAG has awarded a new mandate to an external firm to spend approximately the next two years scrutinizing historical billing data. The objective is to determine whether test centers, medical practices, and laboratories intentionally or unintentionally submitted false claims. Investigators are searching for instances where tests were never actually administered, billed multiple times, or charged at inflated rates. Out of thousands of claims processed during the peak of the pandemic, 322 distinct cases currently carry a formal suspicion of fraud. Any entity or individual found to have acted with fraudulent intent faces criminal prosecution.
To date, authorities have successfully recovered 23.3 million Swiss francs. Three years ago, the Federal Council published an extensive report detailing the national health costs driven by SARS-CoV-2.
The Case of the Zurich Physician and Regional Reinstatement
Public scrutiny over billing practices intensified following a high-profile case involving a Zurich doctor who billed authorities for thousands of fabricated coronavirus tests. Following the discovery of the fraud, the practitioner fled to Dubai in September 2024. Health authorities across five cantons subsequently revoked his license to practice medicine.
Despite the revocation, the regulatory rules shifted when it became known that the accused individual had returned to Switzerland to practice medicine again. According to the health directorate of the Canton of Bern, the physician is legally permitted to work without a formal license to practice independently, provided he operates under mandatory professional supervision.
Contraindications & When to Consult a Doctor
References
- Federal Office of Public Health (BAG). Reports on Pandemic Health Costs and Testing Reimbursements.
- Sonntagszeitung. Investigations into COVID-19 Testing Billing Irregularities.
- Health Directorate of the Canton of Bern. Regulatory Disclosures on Medical Licensing and Supervision.
