Fraudulent medical prescriptions were created using members' data to fuel an illegal trade in medications
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The Córdoba Justice Department is investigating a fraud scheme within the Apross health insurance provider that already has 24 individuals charged and has accumulated 54 formal complaints. According to Pablo Di Francesca, the group used members' data to issue fake prescriptions that then fueled the illegal drug market. Of the accused, 16 remain in pretrial detention, and authorities suspect the scheme extended from 2009 to 2024.
The prosecution found more than 1,500 units of medications unfit for therapeutic use ready for sale on the black market. "These medications [...] did not meet the necessary requirements to verify that they served a therapeutic purpose," Di Francesca specified. The prosecutor also warned about the complexity of quantifying the real damage due to the time span involved in the fraud.
The case was further complicated by a fire at an Apross office that caused the partial disappearance of evidence, although this did not halt the progress of the investigation. "It has been possible to establish the disappearance of some evidence that could have been useful," confirmed the prosecution secretary. Meanwhile, members are demanding clear answers and compensation for the harm suffered.
Pablo Di Francesca, Secretario del fiscal Bringas
Scandal context: a public system undermined by an organized network
Apross currently brings together more than 600,000 members and manages health insurance for state employees, with a solid mission in medical coverage. Since 2019, the Public Prosecutor's Office has been investigating multiple irregularities at Apross, including fake prescriptions and fraudulent billing. The case has gained greater significance amid allegations that oncology and psychotropic medications were being diverted to the parallel market.
The prosecution explained that the criminal scheme involved coordination among several individuals to access medical records and forge prescriptions, increasing risks. The medications found include controlled-use products and special treatments whose origin could not be verified. This reflects the seriousness of the fraud, which not only involves economic losses but also poses a direct danger to the health of the members.
Additionally, operations were carried out in several localities in Córdoba, securing documentation and electronic devices linked to the issuance of fraudulent prescriptions. Di Francesca indicated that investigators are continuing to analyze financial movements to trace illicit profits obtained by the network. The case remains open and could expand if new individuals or evidence linking other health system professionals emerges.
