Pharmacist convicted of medical aid fraud
A former pharmacy owner was found guilty of medical aid fraud in the Nelspruit Regional Court on Friday.
MBOMBELA – Wisani Ngobeni (43) was convicted of forgery, as he had defrauded a medical aid scheme over a period of four years.
Monica Nyuswa, the provincial spokesman for the Directors of Public Prosecutions (DPP), stated that Ngobeni was the sole owner of Wisemed Pharmacy at Acornhoek in Mpumalanga. He unlawfully and intentionally instructed his employees to forge medical scripts by using names of various doctors operating around the province.
Further investigations provided the necessary evidence needed to arrest him. He subsequently pleaded not guilty when he appeared in court.
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Senior state advocate, Patrick Nkuna of the Specialised Commercial Crime Unit, cross-examined three doctors whose prescription scripts were forged, according to a statement issued by Nyuswa.
The doctors led testimony that they were approached by forensic investigators from Ernest & Young in order to confirm if they had issued the prescriptions to the patients indicated on the script. They further testified that they never issued any prescriptions, nor did they consult with the patients in question.
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The court found that the fraudulent pharmacist overcharged for the medication reflected on the scripts and also sold medication meant for adults to underage children.
A former employee testified against Ngobeni and confirmed that the accused was the owner of the pharmacy and that it was his responsibility to prescribe and dispense medicine.
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Members of the Government Employees Medical Scheme (Gems) also testified that they never consulted with the doctors whose names appear on the scripts.
The matter was remanded until December 13 for sentencing.
