ANAC approves new anti-corruption catalogue for healthcare sector

The Italian National Anti-Corruption Authority (ANAC) has approved a new catalogue identifying corruptive risks and prevention measures within the healthcare sector. Adopted via resolution no. 318, the document serves as a guide for companies and entities within the National Health Service (SSN) to strengthen their Integrated Activity and Organization Plans (PIAO).

The catalogue highlights several high-risk areas, including medical prescriptions, biomedical research, relationships with the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, public procurement, personnel management, private practice, and waiting lists. Specifically, it addresses the risk of professionals abusing their autonomy to favor certain products or services in exchange for external incentives.

In the field of biomedical research, ANAC identifies risks related to the relationships between sponsors, researchers, and ethics committees, as well as the potential for selective publication of results and conflicts of interest. Proposed mitigation measures include annual declarations regarding industry relationships, the sharing of raw data, payment traceability, and protected whistleblowing channels.

ANAC President Busìa noted that healthcare accounts for approximately 25% of total public contract spending, increasing the risk of administrative opacity. Furthermore, 8% of all whistleblowing reports are related to the healthcare sector, involving issues such as procurement anomalies, irregularities in waiting lists, and suspicious accreditation processes.