A Luxembourg cardiologist has been remanded in custody after raids on Tuesday, as the public prosecutor investigates suspected fraud involving health service reimbursements. The investigation follows a complaint by the National Health Fund (CNS).
The CNS suspects the cardiologist of fraudulent billing, particularly for technical procedures in cardiology.
The investigation covers possible charges of inciting the illegal practice of medicine, subsidy fraud, insurance fraud, money laundering, and falsification of documents.
According to the CNS complaint, the accusations rest on a comparison of the cardiologist's activity data against that of other medical professionals. The CNS pointed to an unusually high volume of procedures, workdays that it said were "beyond the realm of possibility", and statistical "outliers" far outside normal professional standards.
A separate inquiry involving sixteen insured patients has raised further concerns. Certain procedures, which require resuscitation equipment, may have been carried out by secretaries alone, without the cardiologist present.
Given the seriousness of the findings, investigators carried out several coordinated searches on Tuesday morning. Raids took place at the cardiologist's home and at three medical practices in Luxembourg City, Sanem, and Schifflange. The doctor was arrested and brought before an investigating judge, who, after questioning, issued a detention order that remains in effect.
Authorities are continuing to examine the practices, which opened in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Financial records are also under review, with particular attention to the sharp rise in the cardiologist's turnover in recent years.
The public prosecutor stressed that Luxembourg's social security system is built on trust between patients, healthcare providers, insurance institutions and public authorities. When credible evidence suggests that trust may have been violated, the judicial authorities must investigate and, if necessary, take legal action as the law provides.
