Three surgeons allegedly received money from patients to perform operations at Vushtrri Hospital

Money from about 150 to 400 Euros, as confessed by patients and members of the video that G has providedazet Shneta, doctors have taken them on behalf of the purchase of the material (mainly the net and clipa) needed for surgery. Among the surgeons is Isuf Zeqaj éfiaj chief of surgery at SP Vushtrri and member of the USKKUK Steering Board, and the two surgeons Ekrem Sefiu and Arsim Latifaj. The three surgeons are also being investigated by Mitrovica's Founding Prosecutor, following the initiative by journalist Bujar Vitija.

Three surgeons at Vushtrri Hospital are involved in a bribery scandal after allegedly receiving money from patients to perform operations. In the videos provided, patients and family of patients operated by surgeons Isuf Zakaj, Ekrem Sefiu and Edsim Latifaj speak.

The surgeon Zekaj is head of the surgery department in SP Vushtrri, as well as member of the USKKUK Steering Board appointed in July last year when the MSH was led by former Prime Minister Rifat Latifaj.

On video, family members report how they gave money to surgeons to perform their operations. The money, from around 150 to 400 euros, has been given on behalf of purchase of materials, mainly nets and clips. These two materials are not included in the Esensual List of Expensive Materials.

In research, information from the private sector has been provided that drug nets cost between 15 and 30 euros, while there are 200 to 300 Euros expensive. And the clips that are needed to stop the bleeding cost about 10 Euros a few pieces.

These videos were obtained through a beacon in September 2022. Video material was initially handed over to the investigative bodies in the Kosovo Police by journalist Bujar Vitija, as the beacon has asked to remain anonymous.

The names of surgeons who are not mentioned in the video have been identified through operating programs of days when patients have become surgery. The software records are owned by Schneta Journal, and the same with the videos were delivered to the police.

From that time to date, the newspaper has learned that police investigations have been conducted in the Mitrovica region, and the prosecutor of the Fetije Bajrami case has confirmed to Mitrovica Basic Prosecutor. She has said they are collecting evidence, though the evidence has been submitted since October of last year. I'm dealing intensively with the case. We're at a rehearsal meeting. We are under investigation and cannot speak any more”, Bajrami has declared.

By the end of August last year the newspaper Shneta has co-operated with a beacon at the Vushtrri Hospital, as it has reported on the corruption of several doctors in the institution. The signaler had agreed to cooperate to provide some evidence, and the same has shot conversations with patients and family members of patients who have performed operations in this hospital.

Conversations were conducted until patients were still lying in the hospital.

In the first two cases, it's about two patients operated by surgeon Isuf Zakaj. Patient names are known for editing but will be kept secret because of maintaining their privacy.

The first patient laid out in the department after surgery tells the signal that he had to pay 200 Euros for the materials needed for intervention. The patient is reluctant to tell details saying it was important for him to do the job.

In the case of the second patient operated by Zekiaj, a family member of the patient speaks, saying that he gave the doctor 250 Euros with the reason to buy the materials.

Family: He's made it all because I didn't know.

Signal: What brother?

Patient: Me, me.

Signalr: You gave it to the doctor?

Family: Yeah, I gave it to the doctor.

Signal: How much did you give him?

Family: 250... are said to be the lowest of 180, but the best is 250.

In the third case, a family member of the patient, operated by surgeon Ekrem Sefiu. He says he went to Vushtrri Hospital and had accidentally met Sefio. The family member reports that his sister gave the doctor about 140 Euros for the operation.

Family: I know what they are.

SignalrClubs. Who did you give it to, doctor?

Family: Doctore. I don't care if it's done well.

Signal: How much did you give him?

Family: 150-160 doesn't know how much, 140 a... we didn't happen to be trying...so something the sister gave it to her.

In the fourth case, an elderly patient speaks. She had conducted an operation at the Vushtrri Hospital, while several weeks later she underwent a second intervention at the Mitrovica Hospital. The patient indicates that he had given the surgeon Arsim Latifi 400 Euros to conduct the first operation. According to her, the doctor had asked her for money to buy her clothes.

The patient further shows that for the first operation, she had first gone to Mitrovica Hospital, where she was told she had to lose 10kg to undergo surgery. Then he went to Vushtrri Hospital, where the surgeon said he could handle the intervention tomorrow.

Patient: Education Latifi.

Signal: How much did he take?

Patient: 400 Euros. I swear to God!

Signal: Did he tell you to buy money?

Patient: No no, I gave him the money. I don't know what to buy, what I know is what's left of it.

Signal: Where did you get the money from, like, retirement?

Patient: No, the dance is my son outside, I'm not retired.

After this footage, the beacon delivered the material to this medium. He has asked to remain anonymous. Video recordings were submitted to the Kosovo Police on October 3rd 2022 by journalist Vitija.

The paper has contacted the three surgeons on this occasion, but none of them have answered or explained questions sent through emails and in numbers on the Viber platform. No answers and clarifications have provided even the Vushtrri Hospital management in the newspaper's questions to executive director Shefkije Shatri and Abdullah Klinak.

Those who are referred to in this article are represented innocent until the court's decision of form.