Medics and nurses paid bribes of up to 15,000 euros for a post at the Botosani Emergency hospital in northern Romania, an investigation has revealed.
Romania’s Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) on Thursday indicted 15 people including 11 who were detained in suspicion of bribery, influence peddling and passing information to unauthorized persons in exchange for money, goods and other illicit benefits.
DNA said bribes for jobs were allegedly demanded and received, directly or through intermediaries, from various people, including medical staff.
Candidates paid between 8,000 and 15,000 euros for a position of nurse, and between 2,000 and 5,000 euros for non-medical staff such as caretaker, stretcher holder, hospital laundry worker. They also gave gold jewelry and expensive watches.
The illegal practice was allegedly long-standing and rates had soared from a maximum of 8,000 euros in 2019, the years before the pandemic.
It is the second time in recent months that the hospital has been implicated in a major scandal. In August there was a national outcry after a 26-year-old pregnant woman admitted to the hospital died after medics ignored her cries for help for seven hours.
Health Minister Alexandru Rafila aid her death was not linked to a medical error „but to a lack of interest and empathy.”
In the current bribery case, kickbacks were given specifically to influence the outcome of interviews in the hospital and for job transfers to the to the County Emergency Hospital „Mavromati” Botoșani, DNA said.
According to DNA, between 2018 and 2023, gold jewelry and luxury watches were allegedly given for promotion to specialist doctor positions, for the transfer of medical staff from other medical units to the „Mavromati” Botosani County Emergency Hospital and for approving the opening of new positions.
Romania’s healthcare system is blighted by corruption and is under political influence. The reason that medical staff would have paid bribes is because they would have expected to receive bribes and unofficial payments from patients while doing their jobs.
Among those detained are Doina Caba, the former manager of the Emergency Hospital, Coca Stela Crîșmaru, a hospital department head, the head of the ICU Department, Claudia Malanca, and head of the Internal Medicine Department Cornelia Sarban.
An administrative and supply head, two economists, a medical registrar, a chief nurse of the ICU Section were also detained.
Prosecutors say that the amounts of money increased depending on the number of intermediaries participating in the illegal transaction.
In 2019, the „cost” of filling an assistant position was 8,000 euros, in 2022 it increased to 10,000 euros, and in 2023 it reached 15,000 euros, DNA says.
In total, prosecutors are investigating 65,000 euros worth of bribes.
The 11 detainees were taken on Thursday afternoon to the Suceava Court, with prosecutors asking for their arrest.
Prosecutors carried out 92 searches on Wednesday, including at the Botosani County Hospital, he County Council, an institution subordinated to the hospital, at the Săveni City Hall and at the Botoșani office of the ruling Social Democratic Party.
Hospital manager fired after medics ignored pleas of pregnant woman who died in hospital
