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BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romanian authorities have conducted searches at hospitals and the offices of a drug company which authorities say has supplied dozens of hospitals with a sub-standard disinfectant.
Prosecutors searched Hexi Pharma offices and the home of the company owner Saturday. Police said officers had taken away documents and samples from 25 hospitals in Bucharest and around the country where tests revealed there were problems with the disinfectant used.
On Friday, the health ministry said 50 hospitals were using disinfectant supplied by Hexi Pharma that didn't correspond to the label. The substance is used to disinfect surfaces and medics' hands.
About 500 protested Friday in Bucharest over the latest scandal to hit Romania's underfunded health care system. Thousands of medics emigrate annually and bribery and informal payments are rife in the system.
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