People living in Donegal and using addresses in Derry to obtain free health care on this side of the border are to be targeted in a new initiative by the Department of Health aimed at tackling fraudulent health claims.
It is estimated false claims are costing the Health Service £.25 billion a year.
The Health Department here has launched a number of issues to combat the problem which ranges from people claiming free prescriptions to consultants claiming for unworked hours.
Health Minister Edwin Poots said the people wrongfully obtaining free treatment at Altnagelvin Hospital was an issue investigators would be looking at.
Mr Poots said: “With it costing up to 100 euro for using emergency departments it is very tempting to say you are a resident of Northern Ireland. That is an issue, certainly at Altnagelvin. We would never refuse anyone a service but it is an issue if not a resident in Northern Ireland and we have to recoup that money.”
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