Pharmacy Daily | Fraudster pharmacist gets six years

A DISGRACED pharmacist is set to spend more than six years behind bars for his role in conspiring to defraud the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

The former pharmacist was sentenced to six years and four months imprisonment for his part in the $19 million scam, last week, with a non-parole period of four years.

Last week's sentencing hearing before the Sydney Downing Centre District Court came more than a year after the man was convicted by a jury in Apr 2021.

In a statement welcoming the sentencing decision the Commonwealth Department of Health said it "shows the serious consequences of attempts by trusted health provider to defraud taxpayers".

"This is the culmination of the strong collaboration between the Department of Health, the Australian Federal Police and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, using information received via the Department's tip-off hotline," a spokesperson said.

"The Department of Health takes allegations of fraud and non-compliance by health providers very seriously.

"We recognise that the overwhelming majority of health providers are aware of and comply with their obligations to claim benefits honestly and correctly.

"The Department has a strong health provider compliance program that protects the integrity of Australia's health payments system through the prevention, identification and treatment of incorrect claiming and fraud."

The sentence contrasts with the 350 hours of community service sentence handed down to the owner of a Sydney pharmacy who was convicted of making 524 fraudulent PBS claims (PD 15 Mar 2021).

The Department of Health has urged anyone with information about suspected non-compliance or fraud of Government health payments by health providers to make a tip off using its 'REPORTING FRAUD' page, or by calling the Provider Benefits Integrity Hotline on 1800 314 808.