At least two medical centres in Brussels are using patients’ personal data to create invoices for non-existent medical services, reports Bruzz on Wednesday.
The outlet spoke to two victims of the fraud. One patient was billed for consultations that never occurred during a visit to AB Maison Médicale in Saint-Guidon, Anderlecht, in September 2023. Initially, the patient paid €10 in cash for blood sample analysis, only to later find the medical centre had billed €110 to their health insurance for the same service.
Additionally, several doctor visits which never took place were billed under this patient’s record, with some months showing multiple visits. The false charges amounted to €265 for 21 non-existent consultations and home visits. There were even charges for services supposedly rendered before the patient’s first visit, amounting to 33 payments by the mutual insurance fund for €424.
Another victim, who visited a physiotherapist with his son at a medical centre in Molenbeek, also found fraudulent charges. His insurer (mutualité) noted payments reimbursed to two doctors he had never seen. The National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (RIZIV) was charged €180 for six non-existent medical services.
Almost all of the doctors involved are non-Belgians, but recognised and contracted by RIZIV, Bruzz reports. Most of them are not general practitioners. They only receive €12.85 from the mutual insurance for services instead of the €25 typically reimbursed for GP visits.
These doctors are active in four healthcare centres, all overseen by Mounir Hahati, who also owns a taxi company and is reportedly not a healthcare provider.
