Healthcare workers have been instructed to double-check patients’ identities when providing services, seemingly in response to recent identity fraud allegations.

A letter passed around amongst staff in all government healthcare institutions, seen by Times of Malta, instructed healthcare workers to confirm patients’ identities by requesting their ID number, full name, and date of birth.

The letter also advises verifying demographic information such as address, mobile number, and telephone number. Additionally, patients should be asked to present their ID card, residence permit, passport, or driving license.

The letter was issued just weeks after numerous individuals reported finding upcoming appointments for serious tests and surgeries in their medical files that they did not require, along with records of hospital admissions they never experienced and medications prescribed for illnesses they never had.

In one case, a man who went for a check-up at a public healthcare clinic in June was shocked to discover that his medical records listed him as having died in March.

According to Times of Malta, the letter also instructed healthcare workers to cross-verify health records, with the letter reportedly stating “Before accessing or updating any health records confirm that the identifiers in the patient’s health records match the details provided by the patients or their authorised representative. This applies to every point of contact, including, but not limited to registration, consultation, test ordering, diagnostics and treatment,”

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