The police dismantled a healthcare scam network that will save the Portuguese National Health Service some €1m annually, according to official figures obtained by Lusa at the weekend.

The network, which forged prescriptions so medicines could be bought at pharmacies prior to being exported for resale rather than used by the Portuguese patients who need them, was uncovered last June and 10 people arrested.

The suspects currently being detained in the “Remédio Santo” – Holy Medicine in English – operation include two doctors, five pharmaceutical sales representatives, and two medical warehouse staff.