Fraud in the medical-social sector is a growing concern that calls for heightened vigilance. While two-thirds of companies reported having suffered at least one fraud attempt in 2024, medical-social establishments are not spared from this phenomenon.
A recent webinar brought together experts to address this issue and propose concrete solutions.
A worrying reality
"Fraud is a subject that wasn't talked about much or was taboo just a few months ago," stresses Peter Bouchet, Anytime's Sales Director.
Yet the figures speak for themselves: on average, fraud costs a company 13,000 euros, and around 730 euros per employee. In the medical-social sector, the forms of fraud are diverse, ranging from exaggerated mileage allowances to falsified receipts.
François Jégard, Managing Director of Jégard Créatis, stresses the importance of context:
"Fraud issues cut across all sectors. The medical-social sector is not particularly more sensitive, but it does require special attention because of its mission of general interest."
Identified risk factors
Several factors are conducive to fraud:
- Lack of control and clearly defined processes
- The still significant use of
- Staff turnover
- Lack of expense management charters
Solutions to prevent fraud
Digitalization as a bulwark
"The digitization of documents and expense authorization processes represents a considerable gain in productivity and security," explains François Jégard.
Automation enables faster detection of anomalies and better traceability of operations.
The right tools
Peter Bouchet emphasizes the importance of professional payment methods:
"With business payment cards integrated into a management solution, the risk of fraud is considerably reduced. The employee uses the company's money directly, which changes perception and responsibility."
Local control
Experts insist on the crucial role of field managers in validating expenses. "Who better than the operational manager to attest to the legitimacy of expenses?" stresses Peter Bouchet.
However, François Jégard reminds us that we need "an uncompromising and fair policy in applying the rules."
The challenge of training
Team awareness and training are essential. It's all about explaining what's at stake, empowering employees and cultivating a sense of belonging. " You have to give meaning to what you do every day", insists Peter Bouchet.
A broader context
Corporate fraud is a phenomenon that extends far beyond the medical-social sector. According to a study by SAP Concur, only 1 in 3 employees would never commit expense fraud, and medium-sized European companies could lose up to €13,709 a year to this type of fraud. Against this backdrop, the medical-social sector, which manages both public and private funds, needs to be particularly vigilant in implementing effective control processes.
Fraud prevention in the medico-social sector requires a global approach combining digital tools, clear processes and team awareness. Automating processes and empowering staff are the keys to sound, transparent management, guaranteeing the long-term future of our establishments and the quality of our services to users.