SSU exposed the corruption in Zhytomyr Regional Oncology Center. The perperators forced oncology patients to buy expensive drugs in pharmacies, although the state provided them with drugs free of charge.

Allegedly, the head of an oncology center unit jointly with his colleague organized the illegal activity. Doctors prescribed treatment to oncology patients, and offered them to buy expensive drugs in pharmacies, but in fact, the state provided the drugs free of charge for each patient.

The perpetrators wrote off the received drugs and sold them to private pharmacies at half price in several regional centers. The scheme has been working for at least last six months.

During the searches in the perpetrators' offices and private cars, in the pharmacies involved in the illegal scheme, seized:

• almost UAH 500,000 (USD 18,600) in cash;
• another consignment of drugs ready for sale (50 packs of expensive drugs).

The pre-trial investigation is underway to identify all persons involved in the illegal activities.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Zhytomyr region jointly with the National Police investigators, under the coordination of the SSU Directorate of Economic Counterintelligence Protection of State’s Interests and the procedural supervision of the Zhytomyr Region Prosecutor's Office.