Europe’s human rights watchdog on Tuesday warned that the COVID-19 pandemic made healthcare systems vulnerable to corruption.
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) president, Marin Mrcela, said the health sector was specifically exposed, due to surges in the immediate need for medical supplies and the simplification of procurement rules, overcrowded medical facilities and overburdened medical staff.
“As countries face undeniable emergencies, concentration of power, derogation of rights and freedoms, and as large amounts of money are infused into the economy to alleviate the crisis corruption risks should not be underestimated,” Mrcela said.
“Decisions related to measures by central, regional and local authorities to face the pandemic must be transparent and subject to oversight and accountability. Whistle-blowers in the health sector must be protected”, he added.
GRECO’s president said transparency in the public sector was one of the most important means for preventing corruption.
“The need for regular and reliable information from public institutions is crucial in times of emergency. This concerns the spread and risks of the pandemic as such, but also emergency measures taken in response to them.”
Corrupt practices may affect the public or the private sectors, and be related to the procurement system, bribery in medical-related services, corruption in new product research and development (R&D), including conflicts of interest and the role of lobbying, and COVID-19-related fraud related to the marketing of counterfeit medical products, among others risks.
The group published guidelines addressed to its 50 member states aimed at preventing corruption in the context of the health emergency caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
