The 16th EHFCN International Conference in Madrid celebrated 20 Years of European Collaboration Against Healthcare Fraud and Corruption

The European Healthcare Fraud and Corruption Network (EHFCN), in partnership with the Ministry of Health of Spain, successfully concluded its 16th International Conference in Madrid, held on 13–14 November 2025 at the Ministry’s headquarters.

115 participants, including around 100 experts, policymakers, and institutional leaders from across Europe explored the following theme in greater depth: “Fighting Fraud & Corruption in Health Care: From System Design to Enforcement – European Perspectives”.

Key moments from the conference included:

• Opening remarks by Spain’s Minister of Health, Mónica García Gómez, and EHFCN President Philip Tavernier.
• A keynote on health system financing and fraud risk by David Clarke (WHO), and ISSA’s insights by Nathalie De Wulf.
• Instructive contributions from various Spanish initiatives and institutions—including El Observatorio, INGESA, OIRESCON, the SNCA, and the Whistleblower Protection Authority—provided valuable insights into their ongoing efforts to combat fraud, address conflicts of interest, and safeguard whistleblowers.
• EHFCN experts delivered substantive and detailed analyses of the various manifestations of fraud across distinct healthcare financing systems, exemplified by the approaches of CNAM in France and the NHS Counter Fraud Authority in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, CNS in Luxembourg and Helfo in Norway highlighted the implementation of preventive measures. The conference also underscored the forward-looking application of data and emerging technologies, as demonstrated by HIO in Cyprus.
• The conference also welcomed two new EHFCN members: IKZ (Netherlands) and SJUKRA (Iceland), reinforcing the network’s pan-European reach.
• Additionally, the conference afforded deeper insights into the great advancement of digitalisation within Ukraine, notwithstanding the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the cruel war.

Most notably, the conference was marked by numerous productive and engaging discussions that provided all attendees with renewed motivation to continue moving forward.

EHFCN thanks all participants for their commitment to transparency and integrity in healthcare. The knowledge and perspectives exchanged during the conference will serve to guide the development of future strategies and further enhance collaborative efforts across Europe.