Transparency International on corruption in healthcare

The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled corruption across the community bloc

Leyla Cheamil, 16.06.2021, 13:50

One of the consequences of the coronavirus
pandemic is an increase in corruption in the healthcare system. A study
published Transparency International points out that the COVID-19 pandemic led
to an increase in the perception of corruption amongst EU citizens. 40,000
inhabitants in 27 EU member states took part in the Eurobarometer held over October-December
2020. Less than half of the participants believe the crisis was managed in a transparent
manner by the authorities. Over 60% of respondents in France, Poland and Spain
believe their governments lacked transparency in managing the pandemic.

Health
services are particularly affected by corruption. Medical care services were a fertile
ground for corruption, while the governments were trying to keep the COVID-19
pandemic in check, Transparency International points out in its report. Whereas
only 6% of respondents said they had to pay bribes to obtain access to medical
care, 29% said they used their personal connections to obtain privileged access.
According to the aforementioned study, lives can be lost when people with contacts
on the inside get a COVID-19 vaccine or medical treatment ahead of medical
emergencies. Bribes in the healthcare sector are the most widespread in Romania
-22%, Bulgaria, 19%, and the use of private connections is the most frequent in
the Czech Republic – 54% and Portugal, 46%. On the other hand, Hungary and
Poland are seen as the countries that used the health crisis to undermine
democracy by introducing measures that weakened democratic institutions. In
Germany, MPs of the Conservative Party in power (CDU) were accused of having
intervened in this sector.

Over 60% of German interviewees believe their
governments to be under the influence of groups with private interests. At EU
level, over half of respondents feel the same about their own governments. A
third of EU citizens who took part in the survey believe corruption stagnated
or increased in their countries. The authors of the report highlight the fact
that politicians saw the crisis as an opportunity to profit, invoking lobby activities
to purchase face masks. They are asking on EU governments to intensify their
efforts to ensure a fair and just exit from the pandemic. The results should represent
a warning for both governments and EU institutions, Michiel van Hulten, Transparency
International EU director has said. (VP)