Abstract
Fraud and abuse in the spending of public monies plague governments around the world. In the United States the False Claims Act encourages whistleblowing by private individuals to expose evidence of fraud. They are rewarded for their efforts with monetary compensation and protection from retaliation. Such is not the case in Canada, England, and Australia. Although some recent legislation has increased the protections afforded to whistleblowers, they are still likely to be viewed more as disloyal employees than courageous public servants, and there is little incentive to risk their jobs and reputation. Qui tam laws provide a police force of thousands in the effort to reduce rampant fraud, waste, and abuse, and would be an asset in any health-care system where pubic health policy requires conservation of resources.
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The authors compare approaches in four countries to addressing fraud and wasteful spending of public monies, analyzing the advantages of laws affording protection to and incentives for members of the public to reveal wrong doing.
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Boumil, S., Nariani, A., Boumil, M. et al. Whistleblowing in the pharmaceutical industry in the United States, England, Canada, and Australia. J Public Health Pol 31, 17–29 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1057/jphp.2009.51
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/jphp.2009.51