Last year, six doctors were found guilty of professional misconduct. Photo / Thinkstock
Health Minister Tony Ryall says everything is being done to prevent fraud in the health sector, despite it being scammed for $35 million in the past two years.
Of that, $19.4m has been recovered - $8.4m recovered in the last financial year and $11m in the previous year. Another $16.8m
of fraud was adverted.
Mr Ryall told the Sunday Star Times that health boards and the ministry were making it a priority to prevent fraud.
"Every dollar saved is a dollar that can be spent on services.
"Millions are saved if we can prevent ineligible people accessing services, or bill them if they do. The health budget is around $14 billion every year and every dollar should be going on services for New Zealanders."
