The Concept of Corruption in the Healthcare Sector: A Practical Analysis of Theoretical Aspects and the Lithuanian Context

Abstract

Abstract Corruption in the healthcare sector is one of the concepts for which it is difficult to find one universal definition or to list all possible forms. However, the scientific literature presents both various definitions of corruption and typologies of forms of corruption in healthcare system. But in the presence of great diversity, the choice of one particular classification, without evaluating it in the context of other classifications, poses the risk that certain corrupt acts may not fall under the concept of corruption. As a result, this study presents the most important elements of the concept of corruption in the healthcare sector and proposes a corruption identification plan that would allow for the identification of more complex cases of corruption in the healthcare system, while at the same time helping to select more appropriate prevention measures. The articles analyses how corruption and the forms of corruption in healthcare system are described in legal acts of selected Lithuanian healthcare institutions, in order to determine the practical relevance of improving the identification of corruption in the healthcare sector. Having determined that there is a considerable variety of definitions in the legal acts of institutions, as well as minor gaps, it can be concluded that there is a need to develop the concept of corruption in the healthcare sector. Thus, concluding recommendations include not only further attention to the issues involved, but determining simpler and clearer methods of identifying corruption in the healthcare system.