The Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD) is investigating potential corruption by cardiologists. Eight homes and company buildings were searched in connection with several investigations on Thursday.

The cardiologists are suspected of having received payments from medical device suppliers for years in exchange for favoring their products in procurement decisions. The alleged scheme is said to have taken place at two hospitals where they worked as specialists. Doctors allegedly received the payments through corporate structures and medical partnerships, according to the FIOD.

The searches took place in the provinces of Noord-Holland and Gelderland. Physical and digital administrative files were seized. No arrests have been made as of yet. It has also not been announced how many doctors are involved in the case.

The criminal investigations were launched following, among other things, tips from people in the medical sector and reports in the media, the FIOD said.

A spokesperson for the FIOD emphasized the systemic threat of the case, stating: “Patients must be able to trust that a medical specialist makes the right decision for their health and is not influenced by rewards from the medical industry.”