A report from Germany’s Federal Audit Court (BRH) has raised concerns regarding the recovery of federal funds potentially lost due to alleged fraud within COVID-19 testing centers. The findings, detailed in a report submitted to the Bundestag, suggest a significant shortfall in the retrieval process.
Between 2020 and March 2023, the German federal government disbursed approximately eight billion euros to testing center operators. Shortly thereafter, suspicions arose that an excessive number of tests were being invoiced, exceeding the actual services rendered. The BRH report references “numerous indications of fraud”. While 27.8 million euros were recovered last year, outstanding claims currently total 375.2 million euros.
The Audit Court’s assessment points towards shortcomings in the review process at the state level. The responsibility for thorough investigations lies with the individual German states. The BRH notes that only seven states have completed their assessments, while nine remain engaged in the investigations even two years after initial billing reviews. This lack of timely completion is described as “unsatisfactory” by the BRH, who are urging states to expedite their conclusions.
