Belgian minister to launch 'snitch line' against healthcare fraud

In an effort to reduce waste in Belgium's health care spending, public health minister Maggie De Block has announced she is working on the introduction of a system for reporting cases of fraud among doctors, write various Belgian media.

In a joint collaboration between the Belgian health insurance funds and the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (Inami), the aim of the 'snitch line' is to make it easier for both patients and colleagues to report suspicious payment procedures carried out by medical professionals, such as demanding cash only or writing up more doctor's notes than necessary.

De Block hopes that, from next year, patients and fellow doctors will be able to report such wasteful practices by picking up the phone. The tighter controls should help to recover €25 million per year of the healthcare budget.