A doctor who demanded money from a patient for free drugs was fired from the National Cancer Institute

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A doctor was fired from the National Cancer Institute, who demanded money from a patient for drugs that were available at the medical institution and were purchased with state funds. As “UP. Life” learned, over the past month and a half, 6 doctors were dismissed from the institution for similar violations. What happened The daughter of a patient with multiple myeloma (malignant blood disease) called the hotline “The patient has a right” of the public organization “Athens. Women Against Cancer”. The woman asked for help in finding the medicine prescribed for her mother. These are active substances such as zoledronic acid, bortezomib and lenalidomide. As the organization told “UP. Life”, the patient was treated at the National Cancer Institute, but she received lenalidomide at Kyiv Hospital No. 9. As for the other two drugs, the NIR doctor reported that neither bortezomib nor zoledronic acid is available at the facility. However, he provided the phone number of the courier, from whom you can buy bortezomib for UAH 15,000 per piece. The patient had to undergo 6 courses of chemistry, so treatment with this drug would cost her 90,000 hryvnias. Photo: NIR In addition, the woman was refused admission to the hospital allegedly due to the lack of places in the hospital and was offered chemotherapy at home. The woman trusted the doctor, so she took one course of zoledronic acid at home. On the “hotline” the patient was informed that instilling such drugs at home is a danger to life and health. They also informed that NIR has zoledronic acid and bortezomib available, which can be verified on their website. The consultant recommended that the patient’s daughter contact the director of the NIRU, Olena Yefimenko, and also submit an appeal to the National Health Service of Ukraine and the Ministry of Health. The day after the woman did this, the director of the NIR called her mother and invited her to a course of chemotherapy, informing her that her doctor had been suspended and would be fired later. The NIR promises to react harshly to any similar case Director of the National Cancer Institute Olena Yefimenko confirmed to “UP. Life” the dismissal of the doctor who received the complaint. According to her, the doctor allegedly did not have information about the availability of the necessary drugs for the patient in the hospital. Yefimenko also noted that from May to June 2023, 6 doctors were dismissed from the NIR for similar situations. The director of the institution noted that after the Cancer Institute concluded an agreement with the National Health Service and began working under the medical guarantee program, the NIR became “more open to communication with patients and public organizations.” “We are very grateful to Athena and other patient organizations for their help. Unfortunately, this is not the only case during my time in office. But we are taking measures,” says Olena Yefimenko. She says she really doesn’t want “doctors’ business” and hopes the early dismissals will serve as a warning to other doctors about what not to do. “It is difficult for doctors to adapt to the changes. There are doctors who leave on their own, do not accept these work rules and get a job in private hospitals,” Yefimenko says. To the question of whether criminal cases are opened against doctors who demand money from patients, or whether they are simply fired, the director of NIR answered that these processes are parallel. “We fire doctors – and this is a punishment. Law enforcement officers work in parallel and separately. Very often there is no evidence base. We offer the doctors to resign, but we are ready to cooperate with the investigation if necessary,” says Olena Yefimenko. Information materials where you can find out about the availability of medicines and consumables in the institution The director said that the institution has information materials at each entrance to the department where you can find out about the availability of medicines and consumables in the institution. Also, each patient or his relative can fill out an anonymous questionnaire. Questionnaires that can be filled out in the NIR “All complaints come to me personally. We are ready to respond to various cases. Not only regarding the extortion of funds, but also about the quality of lunches, cleaning and the state of the benches,” says the director. Since the beginning of the year, the NIR has received more than UAH 183,000 from the state. The head of the National Health Service of Ukraine, Natalia Husak, called the case at the NIR “terrible and blatant.” Nataliya Husak reminded that the estimated amount that the NSHU plans to transfer to the accounts of the National Research Institute in 2023 is UAH 447 million. Since the beginning of the year, the institution has already received over UAH 183,000. “I am frankly sorry that a person with cancer has to fight not only with a serious disease, but also with the dishonesty of a doctor who decided to profit from her illness. The management of the medical institution promptly responded to the complaint. The doctor, who violated all human and professional rules, was fired. The patient is hospitalized and receives medical care free of charge under the Medical Guarantee Program,” says Nataliya Husak. The head of the NSZU noted that demanding money for a service or medicine that the NSZU has already paid for is not just a breach of contract, it is a crime. However, in the comment of “UP Life”, Nataliya Husak noted that the department does not have the authority to investigate “doctors’ affairs”, this should be done by law enforcement agencies. She also said that in May 2023, she had a meeting with the leadership of the NIR, where she explained the contract with the NSZU, as well as the rights and obligations of the parties. What are oncology patients complaining about? On the “Patient has the right” hotline, we were told that most of the phone calls from patients diagnosed with oncology are related to the lack of medicines in oncology centers. Patients very often do not know their rights and do not know how to protect them. “Also, patients call with questions about where to get money for an operation or examination. In such cases, we talk about the fact that these medical services can be obtained under the Medical Guarantee Program. It is free of charge for the patient. The NSHU pays the institution for the medical services provided to each patient “, says the consultant. In addition, patients are sometimes denied access to drugs or medical services in the region where they are not prescribed, although under the Medical Guarantee Program the patient can choose any facility for treatment. Nataliya Husak urges patients not to “swallow” situations when doctors demand money for CT scan, “chemistry”, surgery or radiation therapy and to contact the contact center of the NSHU – 16-77. Read also: The director of the Cancer Institute told how she will fight against “charitable contributions” in the medical facility

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