Fraud and violations... The Social Security Fund suspends contract with a doctor and pharmacist!

According to the National Social Security Fund's Public Relations Directorate, "fraudulent activities targeting the Fund's resources are not limited to violations committed by companies and institutions alone; they may also stem from misconduct, collusion, or even negligence. However, for the Fund's management, regardless of the scale of these violations, they constitute an attack on the funds of insured individuals and amount to theft that warrants accountability and appropriate legal action against anyone proven to be involved."

The Directorate stated in a press release: "In this context, the Fund's General Manager, Muhammad Karki, filed a criminal complaint on 5/8/2026 before the Financial Public Prosecution in Beirut against the violating company ((IMCO SECS)). At the same time, he instructed the Administrative Inspection Directorate to complete internal procedures, particularly regarding recovery of the value of health benefits improperly received. As part of ongoing audits into transactions related to this case, investigations by the Administrative Inspection Directorate revealed violations and misconduct by both Dr. Romel Zand and pharmacist Terry Farah (Terry Pharmacy), who were contracted with the Fund."

It added: "Investigations showed that the aforementioned doctor would leave his seal accessible to others and allow them to use it to stamp patient transactions under his name, without having personally examined the patients or reviewed their files. In fact, he was unable to recall several patients whose transactions were processed under his name and bore his seal."

It continued: "Likewise, the investigation revealed that the aforementioned pharmacist would stamp drug invoices indicating that all listed medications were purchased from his pharmacy, whereas in reality only some of them had actually been purchased."

The statement said: "Therefore, based on a recommendation from the Chief Physicians, the General Manager issued two decisions dated 28/8/2026, numbered 466 and 467, which temporarily suspended the contracts of both the doctor and pharmacist concerned for a period of one month, effective from 1/9/2026 until 30/9/2026. Additionally, Karki instructed heads of offices, centers, and relevant staff to prohibit the acceptance, settlement, disbursement, or payment of any transaction processed by Dr. Romel Zand and pharmacist Terry Farah during the suspension period."

It concluded: "Karki emphasizes that the Fund's management remains committed to strengthening oversight, and will not tolerate any individual proven to be involved in manipulation or fraud aimed at unjustly benefiting from Fund resources, as protecting the funds of insured individuals is the Fund's top priority, and no infringement will be permitted."