Corruption Scandal at KB Zagreb: Bribery, Rigged Tenders, and Millions Lost!
Imagine the largest hospital in Croatia, a place where people come to heal, not where shady deals are made! That’s exactly what happened at the Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb (KB Zagreb). The Croatian anti-corruption agency Uskok revealed that eight individuals, including the head of a clinical department and the head nurse, along with an entrepreneur and the director of Airmed Solutions, rigged public procurement contracts worth hundreds of thousands of euros.
How Did They Do It?
It all started with an agreement between Matija Herceg, director of Airmed Solutions, and the head nurse of a clinic at KB Zagreb. They agreed that KB Zagreb would continuously purchase goods from Herceg’s company, and the public procurement procedures would be tailored so that his company would always win. The head of the clinical department, Ana Budimir, is also accused of participating in this scheme.
Procurement officers at KB Zagreb illegally adjusted tender conditions to exclude competition. One tender was open for only 20 minutes, and the documentation was pre-prepared specifically for Airmed Solutions. They were even recorded persuading a competing company to withdraw a cheaper offer because KB Zagreb requires continuous supply, and payments are delayed up to 90 days.
How Much Did They Earn?
Uskok claims that Airmed Solutions illegally earned at least €100,000, and some suspects received bribes totaling at least €10,000. One even demanded payment for home renovations!
And It Doesn’t Stop There!
This scandal wasn’t limited to KB Zagreb. Similar deals occurred at the General Hospital of Šibenik-Knin County, where the same company secured a contract worth about €19,000, despite a competing offer being 30% cheaper but rejected due to alleged non-compliance with technical specifications.
Six suspects have been proposed for pre-trial detention, and one procurement officer from the Šibenik hospital has been banned from performing business activities.
Why Does This Outrage Us?
Imagine how much taxpayers’ money was thrown away! Instead of buying the best equipment and supplies for patients, money ends up in the pockets of corrupt individuals. And the patients? They wait, suffer, and bear the consequences.
What’s Next?
Uskok has launched an investigation, and the court will decide on detention. But the question remains – how many such cases are still hidden? And how long will our healthcare systems remain prey to corruption?
If you think this is just the tip of the iceberg, you’re not far off. Public procurement is often a hotbed of corruption, and until stricter controls and transparency are introduced, such things will keep happening.
Is it time for citizens to demand accountability louder? Or will we keep silent while our money turns into bribes and rigged deals?
Share your thoughts, maybe your story or comment will spark a wave of change!
Corruption at KB Zagreb: Secret Recordings and Pressure on Competitors!
Investigators secretly recorded the actors in this corruption affair for a year. The recordings reveal how suspects arranged rigged tenders for Airmed Solutions. One shocking detail is that a public procurement was open for only 20 minutes, and Matija Herceg himself sent the documentation, while KB Zagreb employees knew everything in advance.
The chief procurement officer Filip Hudžber even persuaded a competing company to withdraw an offer that was 30% cheaper because KB Zagreb requires continuous supply, and payments are delayed up to 90 days. Such behavior is illegal but happened in plain sight.
Uskok claims that Airmed Solutions illegally earned about €100,000, and six suspects have been proposed for detention. A procurement officer from the Šibenik hospital has been banned from business activities.
This scandal casts a shadow over the entire healthcare system and shows how deeply corruption is rooted. While patients fight for their health, some fight for personal gain at their expense.
Conclusion:
Corruption in public procurement at KB Zagreb and other hospitals is not just a legal issue but a moral and social one. As long as such things happen, citizens’ trust in the healthcare system declines, and the quality of services deteriorates. Urgent reform, transparency, and accountability are needed.
What about you? Do you believe justice will be served, or is this just another corruption story that will quickly be forgotten? Drop a comment, share your story, or just share this article – let the voice of the people be heard!
