In the Lviv region, two nurses have been exposed on suspicion of illegally selling methadone to patients receiving substitution therapy for people with drug addiction. This was reported under the procedural guidance of the Sheptytskyi District Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the investigation, in September and October this year, nurses at one of the region’s hospitals, who were responsible for dispensing medicines, organised a scheme for selling drug-containing tablets. Patients who were on the register were entitled to receive methadone no more than once a week, on a specified day and in person, signing for it.
Law enforcement officers documented at least five instances when, instead of three actual patients, one person came to collect the tablets. She signed for all of them and took away the entire amount at once – 21 tablets each time. In this way, the woman illegally obtained 70 tablets “for acquaintances” from the medical facility, with the remainder issued to her officially for her own use.
According to preliminary information, some drug-dependent individuals who were on the register in fact did not attend the facility, although the documents stated that the medicines had allegedly been dispensed to them. In addition, patients may have been given fewer tablets than prescribed per week, while the reports recorded the full amount. The surplus methadone formed in this way remained unaccounted for and was stored in the office, after which the drug could have entered the illegal market.
At present, the activities of the suspects have been halted, and both medical workers have been detained under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. During searches at the medical facility and its departments, medical records and 60 unaccounted methadone tablets were seized.
Under the procedural guidance of the Sheptytskyi District Prosecutor’s Office, both detainees have been notified of suspicion of the illegal sale of narcotic drugs committed by a group of persons acting in prior conspiracy (Part 2 of Article 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). One of them is additionally charged with illegal possession of narcotic drugs with intent to sell (Part 2 of Article 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by the Sheptytskyi District Police Department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Lviv region.
Pursuant to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime until their guilt is proven in accordance with the law and established by a guilty verdict of a court.