Qatar’s State Audit Bureau uncovers QR290m scams in healthcare and education sectors

The State Audit Bureau (SAB) has uncovered a huge insurance scam by more than 15 private health centres in the country.

The SAB has referred them to the Public Prosecution for manipulating invoices and submitting false data to patients, under the previous health insurance system, leading to a loss of about QR150m to the state, reported Qatar Tribune. The SAB also discovered that the Computer Section at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education had defrauded the state of over QR140m. 

The Cabinet had earlier suspended the health insurance service provided through state-owned National Health Insurance Company (NHIC).

The scam came to light after some citizens and residents suspected that a few private health centres and health insurance providers inflated bills by manipulating invoices. This put a heavy financial burden on the state.

Both cases have been referred to Public Prosecution.

The Audit Bureau is currently working on development of control and auditing mechanisms and ensuring transparency and accountability for public money issues.

Picture for representational purposes only.