TIRANA: Albanian officials on Wednesday indicted doctors, nurses, and administrators from a Tirana oncology clinic over allegations they endangered patients by lying about drugs shortages so they could sell them expensive medication elsewhere.

Investigators also raided pharmacies and medical supply companies in the capital.

Prosecutors say they are suspected of having sold counterfeit cancer medicines at extremely high prices.

The seven suspects detained included doctors, nurses and administrators, Rozeta Tase, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office in Tirana told AFP.

They "did not offer the necessary care to patients at a public clinic, and referred them to private hospitals where they also worked," she added.

The suspects are suspected of having lied about drug shortages and of having provided cancer patients with only partial treatment.

Their patients were then referred to pharmacies, where the rest of the required medicine was sold at steep prices.

The hospital's equipment for radiation was also removed, forcing patients to seek additional care at private clinics, said prosecutors.

The investigation was opened after patients contacted the authorities, who tapped the suspects' phones.

According to prosecutors, phone taps revealed that the suspects said the money earned from the scheme was enough to pay for week-long vacations in the Maldives or Thailand.

Health Minister Albana Kociu has called for "all those found guilty to be severely punished" over what she called "unprecedented, disgusting acts that run counter to all values."

Civil society groups have called for a protest in front of the health ministry later Wednesday, where they plan to call for the minister's resignation.

  - AFP