The hunt for false health passes has increased since the start of the school year, with nearly 350 procedures initiated to date, targeting 169 caregivers suspected of fraud and nearly 36,000 insured persons suspected of having benefited from it, according to a report presented Thursday, September 23 by health insurance.
The counter is running fast: since the end of August, local health insurance funds have been receiving daily “Between 6 and 10 requisitions” police and justice services. “We are always in great demand”, noted the director of the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM), Thomas Fatôme, during a press conference.
According to a count stopped Tuesday, the 262 requisitions recorded relate to 14 vaccination centers, 138 health professionals and 35,709 insured. To this are added the “Litigation suites” at the initiative of the local funds, which launched 83 procedures (complaints, reports to prosecutors or professional orders) targeting 31 caregivers, 23 other people “Contributing to the fraud” and 253 potential beneficiaries.
“Obviously, the presumption of innocence applies”, recalled Mr. Fatôme, specifying that the insured parties involved are most often “Linked to professionals suspected of fraud” and which are verified on a case-by-case basis. Crimes related to “Fraudulent vaccination certificates” are liable to heavy penalties: up to five years imprisonment and a fine of 150,000 euros for counterfeiters, three years and 45,000 euros for users.