Last year, the Healthcare and Youth Inspectorate (IGJ) received twice as many reports about diploma fraud among healthcare providers. The government agency reported this on Tuesday on its website. The IGJ suspects that the increase is partly due to the lack of personnel in the healthcare sector.
Last year, the Inspectorate received 108 reports of healthcare workers without a valid diploma or certificate, eleven of which concerned a report of a false Declaration on Behavior (VOG). These are reports from individuals. From requested figures from NRC shows that in 2021 there were 48 fraud reports, a year earlier 17.
Due to the shortage on the labor market, according to the IGJ, many employers in the healthcare sector recruit personnel through intermediary agencies or temporary employment agencies. “Healthcare institutions are constantly looking for new people,” says an IGJ spokesperson when asked. “And more application procedures simply means more chance of encountering fraud.”
Employers are legally bound by the so-called verification obligation, which means that they themselves are responsible for screening their personnel, such as checking for false papers. The Inspectorate has sent out a letter in which it raises the issue and points out the responsibility of the care and youth services. The problem would mainly occur in care for the disabled, mental health care, nursing homes, district nursing and youth care.
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