3.5 million euros. This is the amount allegedly defrauded by Stefanie Sander, an independent nurse elected in the commune of Houthulst from the National Institute for Disability Health Insurance (Inami), Belgium’s social security, several local media reported. The caregivers, selected from Vlaams Belang, a political party in Belgium that is often classified as far-right, will collect millions of euros between 2017 and 2024 by billing for fictitious services or declaring patients “highly dependent” when this is not the case.
“Triple theft”
Suspected of social fraud, Stefanie Sander was arrested this Monday, November 17, along with her partner, mother, and collaborators, said VRT NWS. Investigators confiscated 17 luxury cars, valuables and cash from his home.
The elected official’s activities caught the attention of Inami, who noted that he declared a very high number of services per day to the mutual fund. According to his statement to Belgian social security, he would visit a large number of patients, up to 90 patients per day, whereas the average nurse at home cares for between 15 and 20 patients.
For Erik Rossignol, a spokesperson for Inami, “this type of fraud is actually triple theft.” This is “theft of taxpayers’ money intended for health insurance, theft to the detriment of patients, and theft of morals against honest professionals,” he said, as reported by Het Laatste Nieuws.
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The nurse was suspended by her party
Stefanie Sander has been temporarily suspended by her party. “We are disappointed with these facts and we distance ourselves from these facts,” said Vlaams Belang press release.
“Obviously, social fraud is completely unacceptable. As soon as we were informed of this, we immediately suspended the person concerned. Therefore, he is no longer authorized to speak on behalf of our party. We are initiating internal procedures, pending the conclusion of the judicial investigation.”
Responding to the incident, which angered Belgium, Public Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke confirmed that the number of patients a nurse or home nurse can count per day will be limited from next year.
