Combatting medical corruption: A global review of root causes, consequences, and evidence-based interventions

Anas M Al Qudah (), Lara Al-haddad () and Alaa A A Aljabali ()

International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies, 2025, vol. 8, issue 2, 968-985

Abstract: Medical corruption poses a widespread and growing threat to healthcare systems globally, with the World Health Organization estimating that 10-25% of global healthcare spending is lost annually to corrupt practices. This systematic review synthesizes existing evidence on the causes, socioeconomic and clinical impacts, and effectiveness of anti-corruption interventions. We critically examine manifestations of corruption, such as bribery, fraudulent billing, kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies, and systemic inequities driven by unethical practices, including informal payments for care. A literature review was conducted across the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases (2013–2024), screening 1,250 peer-reviewed articles and case studies, with 89 selected. These findings indicate that corruption disproportionately impacts vulnerable groups, leading to medication shortages, unequal access to care, and preventable deaths. Low- and middle-income countries lose 30% of their healthcare funds to corruption, compared to 5-10% in high-income nations. Ongoing barriers to reform include regulatory capture, cultural normalization of bribery, and the lack of whistleblower protections. Emerging technological solutions, such as blockchain for supply chain transparency, AI-driven fraud detection, and crowdsourced corruption-reporting platforms, promise to combat illegal activities. However, anti-corruption interventions must be context-specific, incorporating robust legal frameworks, culturally sensitive ethics training, and international cooperation to address cross-border pharmaceutical fraud. This review uniquely advocates for institutional accountability metrics and the integration of anti-corruption goals into universal health coverage agendas. Policy implications underscore the necessity of political will to dismantle entrenched networks and public-private partnerships to ensure equitable care. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to assess intervention effectiveness and explore the role of social determinants in exacerbating corruption.

Keywords: Anti-corruption interventions; Blockchain in healthcare; Global health equity; Governance reform; Healthcare fraud; Medical corruption. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://ijirss.com/index.php/ijirss/article/view/5397/905 (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aac:ijirss:v:8:y:2025:i:2:p:968-985:id:5397

Access Statistics for this article

International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies is currently edited by Natalie Jean

More articles in International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies from Innovative Research Publishing
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Natalie Jean ().