An audit of Greek welfare recipients has uncovered about 36,000 potential fraudsters and could save the Greek state 111 million euros, Health Minister Andreas Loverdos said on Monday.
Alerted by a suspiciously high frequency of specific illnesses in certain regions, the ministry launched a probe in February to take a closer look at payouts to the handicapped and those with long-term injuries.
During the one-month probe, 36,294 of 240,292 beneficiaries failed to answer calls by investigators and are now suspected of fraud, the minister told hospital officials according to the ANA news agency.
“The first wave of the investigation has saved 111 million euros,” the minister said adding that the figure could reach 230 million euros.
The audit found surprisingly high level of asthmatics in the central Viotia region, while the island of Kalymnos was afflicted by many cases of mental illness.
The minister said the probe will help in the creation of a national welfare register that will track welfare recipients and payments made across all regions.
(source: AFP)
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