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Island of the blind

02 August 2011 / 23:08:40  GRReporter
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When inspectors from the Ministry of Health found a large number of blind in one of the most beautiful islands in the Ionian Sea, thought this might be due to some epidemic that attacked the island years ago. In addition, all blind had documents and certificates based on which they received social aid for years, from early childhood. The certificates mentioned that they were blind from birth. 

At one point, however, the high percentage of blind people on this island triggered the interest of the scientific community and the ministries of health and employment. Both institutions undertook the task to discover why the island has so many blind people, but could not find the cause. So it went until they checked the certificates of the blind and found that dozens of them have lost their sight when the certificated were issued from a health commission. Its members were appointed by political authorities of the country and it was always in election periods. According to investigation results of the health ministry 700 of 35 thousand inhabitants of the island, or 2 percent of the population are blind. 

From today, the ministry began inspections of all who have such certificates. Current data are impressive and fines to be imposed on fraudsters will be severe. Deputy Health Minister Markos Bolaris said that the ministry will review in detail the allocation of all social benefits that cost the state about 6.4 billion euros annually. 

Meanwhile, inspectors from the Ministry of Employment and Social Security found that "bogus pensioners" in Greece are twenty thousand people. These are dead people whose relatives have not submitted anything to the state about the death, in order to continue to receive their pensions. Losses of the insurance funds from the fraudsters total 120 million euros annually. According to Minister George Koutroumanis "after the inspections started many people declared the death of their relatives." 

The Minister also said that in order for the largest insurance fund IKA to pay pensions it will need to obtain additional financing - about 800 million euros by the end of the year. 600 million euros are budgeted and the remaining 200 million euros will be provided by the restriction of unnecessary costs. 

According to George Koutroumanis another reason for lack of funds is the fact that many businesses are not submitting social security for years. Most recently, the ministry has completed sending letters to employers who owe amounts over one million euros and will soon be called to the cash registers in order to pay the outstanding amounts of over € 500,000. 

Tags: Greece blind disabilities fines fraud social issues
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