A pharmacist and former parliamentary candidate for PASOK, who is regarded by authorities as a key member of a criminal organisation accused of defrauding EOPYY, Greece’s National Organisation for Healthcare Services Provision, is expected to appear before an investigating judge on Monday.

The suspect, who stood as a PASOK candidate in the 2023 national elections, is being called to answer charges in connection with an alleged fraud scheme that caused more than €405,000 in losses to the Greek state.

A large-scale “industry” of fake prescriptions and fraud against EOPYY, which allegedly operated undisturbed for at least six years, has been dismantled by the Hellenic Police. So far, investigators have identified 5,429 falsely issued prescriptions. One alleged leading member has been arrested, while the case file includes nine additional individuals.

How the ring allegedly targeted patients without digital prescriptions

According to police information, the ring had been active since at least March 2020 and operated until April 2026, with a strict hierarchy and clearly defined roles.

The key to the scheme allegedly lay in the selection of victims. Members of the organisation are said to have identified the AMKA social security numbers of insured citizens who had not activated digital prescription notifications. As a result, the patients did not receive SMS or email alerts about prescriptions being issued in their names, allowing the alleged fraud to remain undetected.

The prescriptions were then allegedly filled using forged signatures, while the medicines were either reimbursed by EOPYY or distributed through pharmacies for illegal profit.

The investigation began after a complaint was filed by EOPYY, prompting a months-long police inquiry.

What police found

During searches, officers located and seized a large amount of evidence which, according to authorities, points to the scale of the alleged operation. The findings included:

240 packages of illegally prescribed medicines, some containing narcotic substances;

numerous documents, including handwritten notes, prescriptions, medical reports and health insurance cards;

cut-out authenticity labels and medicine barcodes;

€1,200 in cash;

a laptop, a mobile phone and a car.

Charges have been filed, as applicable, for criminal organisation, fraud, forgery, false statements, unlawful processing of personal data, money laundering and violations of drug laws.