Two pharmacists jailed for £1.3m NHS fraud involving cancer drugs

Two pharmacists have each been jailed for six years after using fake prescriptions to defraud the NHS of about £1.3 million. The fraud involved cancer medicines and used the identities of real patients, diverting funds and drugs from an already strained health service.

Jignesh Patel and Rahil Patel submitted 1,639 false prescriptions between 2014 and 2017, involving 440 patients, 24 GPs and 6,983 dispensed items across four NHS areas in north and east London. The medicines included Sprycel, used to treat leukaemia, and Noxafil, used during chemotherapy; investigators said the drugs were intended for resale. Both men were convicted of fraud and handling criminal property, disqualified from company directorships for six years, and will serve half their sentences in custody.