The CNS recently highlighted the rising number of fraudulent health certificates, a concern also acknowledged by the Medical College.
Dr. David Heck, Secretary General of the Medical College, explains that the medical profession’s code of ethics requires that health certificates meet specific standards. “This includes the date of issuance, a clear explanation of why the certificate was issued, and most importantly, what it certifies,” he says.
In recent years, certificates that fail to meet these standards have been submitted. “For instance, there have been cases where non-medical issues were certified. A doctor can only certify what is medically relevant; anything beyond that does not belong on a certificate,” Dr. Heck adds.
In an RTL interview, health minister Martine Deprez noted that the ministry does not maintain a blacklist of such doctors. Instead, she emphasised that the responsibility lies with the Medical College and CNS to take action. Dr. Heck agrees, stating, “What we can confirm is that some certificates have been issued improperly–with incorrect dates, or even by doctors who didn’t actually write them.”
The Medical College’s authority is limited when it comes to sanctions. It can only take action if a doctor is reported by the CNS for not adhering to proper procedures. However, it cannot judge whether a patient’s sickness was genuine or whether the certificate was justified.
“It is the responsibility of the treating doctor to determine whether a patient is unfit for work due to health reasons. We do not have the means to verify medical justification. That’s the role of medical control which can examine patients and assess whether they are genuinely ill,” Dr. Heck explains.
The Medical College does not have data on whether doctors are involved in issuing fraudulent certificates. Nor does it track whether a patient has received sick notes from multiple doctors. This information is solely within the purview of the health insurance companies, as Dr. Heck points out.
Over the past 15 years, there has been just one instance where disciplinary action was taken against a doctor in connection with sick notes.
