Repeated Habitual Drug Prescriptions Under Others' Names... Jeju National University Hospital Aware but Silent
[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Chang-won] It has been reported that a request for an audit to verify facts was submitted to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission on the 14th, due to the lack of proper investigation despite reports that a person habitually obtained prescriptions for narcotics dozens of times by using another person's identity at the National Jeju University Hospital.
According to the report to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, the habitual narcotics prescriber, Mr. A, received prescriptions for the narcotic IR CODON from the neurosurgery, family medicine, and rehabilitation medicine departments, moving around based on a history of back surgery from April last year to May this year. IR CODON is a drug strictly controlled by law due to its addictive nature and rapid effect.
At first, Mr. A received a 30-day supply and then obtained another prescription using the excuse of having lost the medication, and also requested long-term prescriptions claiming to be on extended business trips.
In May, although the personal information was different, a person with a similar face requested a narcotics prescription, which aroused suspicion among hospital staff who reported it to the administration department. Upon verification, it was found that five patients had received the same repeated prescriptions.
Among these five individuals, the whistleblower claims that there was both identity theft by the habitual prescriber and proxy prescriptions.
However, despite these reports and confirmed facts, Jeju University Hospital did not take further action, and Mr. A, the habitual narcotics prescriber, reportedly continued to attempt to obtain prescriptions by visiting for treatment until recently.
The administration department of Jeju University Hospital confirmed the report and measures, stating, "After receiving the report of the habitual narcotics prescriber in May, we asked the legal team to investigate." Multiple calls and messages were left to the legal team to hear their position, but no response was received.
Meanwhile, the whistleblower stated, "Receiving treatment to obtain narcotics is fraudulent use of health insurance, and Jeju University Hospital knowingly accepting medical fees despite this constitutes clear fraudulent claims," adding, "Allowing a suspected narcotics addict to roam without social isolation poses a risk to social safety, which is why the report was made to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission."
Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Chang-won captain@asiae.co.kr
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