SEOUL, - The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency reported on Thursday that 85 individuals have been booked for their involvement in selling unapproved Achilles’ tendons for use in medical surgeries. These individuals, including company executives, salespeople, doctors, and nurses, allegedly defrauded the state health insurance system of about 10 billion won (US$7.7 million).
According to Yonhap News Agency, 26 individuals from the importing and supplier companies, along with six salespeople, have been referred to prosecution on charges related to importing and distributing the unapproved Achilles tendons. Additionally, 30 doctors and 22 nurses are being prosecuted for fraud and violating the Safety and Management of Human Tissue Act.
The case centers around the use of Achilles tendons, typically imported for transplant surgeries to repair ruptured cruciate ligaments in the knee. The National Health Insurance Service provides 1.48 million won in benefits for each complete Achilles tendon used in surgery. However, the involved companies are accused of importing 6,770 half-sized Achilles tendons, falsely presenting them as complete tendons approved by the food and drug safety ministry, and distributing them to around 400 hospitals nationwide between 2012 and 2019.
Police suspect these half-cut tendons, cheaper than complete tissues, were used in surgeries for about 6,500 patients. The investigation began in February following a report by the national health insurance provider, leading to raids and the discovery of medical reports detailing the use of these tendons.
Further investigation revealed the leaking of patient information to salespeople, and in one instance, a supplier was found to have trimmed an Achilles tendon during surgery to fit a patient. The police are now urging the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to enhance its management system to prevent the distribution of unapproved medical products and are continuing their investigation into doctors connected to this case.