Only 20 days remain until the closure of medical commissions (MSEC), but some doctors seem to want to "cash in one last time." In Malin (Zhytomyr region), a soldier wounded at the front was asked for $2,000 and 10,000 hryvnias to extend his 3rd group disability status.
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SubscribeGrigory (name changed) tries to keep his face hidden – everyone knows each other in the small town. He sustained injuries at the beginning of the full-scale invasion: a punctured lung, head, arm, and leg injuries. This was reported by writes TSN.
A year after rehabilitation, it was time to renew his disability status. At the hospital, he was offered to "speed up the process" for $2,000.
"I stopped being angry after everything I've been through. But I do feel a sense of resentment. Without using foul language, I wanted to take a stool and throw it at their heads, but I think – let’s proceed according to the law, everyone should be held accountable for their actions," – says Grigory.
The soldier immediately contacted the SBU. He then went through the hospital offices with law enforcement, documenting the process. When the money was handed over, Grigory was told: "Everything is ready, you can take it."
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What the suspected doctors say
The traumatologist, who has been charged, is currently out on bail (240,000 hryvnias) and continues to work. He responds evasively to journalists' questions:
"The patient was admitted for treatment. He is already here – what can I demand? He is already here, he won't leave without a discharge. I had no working relationship with the secretary of the medical commission."
The investigation holds a different view. According to the police, money given by soldiers was found in the secretary's office. Additionally, she had another – $20,000 at home.
What consequences await the doctors
The secretary and the traumatologist face 5 to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property if their guilt is proven. For now, both have paid bail and are free.
In 20 days, MSEC will cease to exist. However, the residents of Malin fear that such schemes may transfer to new structures. For now, this story serves as a reminder that bribe-takers are still active, even with reform on the horizon.