Scandal in the hospital in Rzeszów. Former director accused of extorting over a million zlotys

The investigation showed that from January 2023 to March 2024, the University Clinical Hospital of F. Chopin under the supervision of Dr. Janusz Ł. billed treatments that did not meet the criteria entitling them to financing by the National Health Fund.

During the investigation, it was found that the treatments performed by the accused did not meet the criteria entitling them to financing by the National Health Fund. Despite this, at the request of the accused, the hospital submitted applications for settlement of these services from public funds - said Aleksander Duda, spokesman for the District Prosecutor's Office in Katowice.

According to the prosecutor's office, as a result of such activities, over PLN 1.3 million was extorted from the National Health Fund.

Putting patients at risk

In addition to extorting public funds, the prosecutor's office accuses the former director of certifying untruths in medical records and exposing three patients to a direct risk of serious health damage.

In the case of one patient, actual serious harm occurred.

"Based on expert opinions, it was determined that the method of carrying out the procedures exposed all three patients to a direct risk of serious damage to health," the prosecutor's office said.

Suspension from practice and threat of imprisonment

Dr. Janusz Ł. pleaded not guilty during the investigation. The prosecutor's office decided to suspend him from practicing medicine and imposed bail on him. The indictment has already been sent to the District Court in Rzeszów.

The alleged acts are punishable by imprisonment from one to 10 years, and for causing serious bodily injury - a minimum of 3 years in prison.

Investigation into suspected fraud to the detriment of the National Health Fund, related to the financing of urological procedures performed at the University Clinical Hospital. F. Chopin in Rzeszów was initiated in July 2023. The case was brought to Katowice by the decision of the National Prosecutor's Office. Dr. Janusz Ł., who was accused of irregularities, was the director of the Registry Office in Rzeszów, the head of the urology clinic and the operator of the Da Vinci robot.