Sales of botulinum toxin, the active substance in botox, have increased sharply.
In five years, botulinum toxin collected on prescription has increased from just over 40 million to over 60 million kronor, statistics from the E-health authority show.
SVT has told about how individual doctors have prescribed botox preparations for hundreds of thousands of kronor, without having medical reasons for it.
"Used in the beauty industry"
The Stockholm Region has reported a number of cases to the Swedish Health and Care Inspectorate, IVO, in recent years.
- These individual doctors issue botox on prescription and fill in that it should be within the benefit, ie that we in the region should finance it as if it were a drug.
But instead, it is used in the beauty industry and the region should not finance it, says Linnea Graaf who is process leader at the health and medical care administration in the Stockholm Region.
Demanded back 1.3 million
Exactly how much goes to beauty salons is not known, but so far the region has demanded SEK 1.3 million back for incorrect botox prescribing.
- What makes me frustrated is that you abuse an trust system.
The vast majority take care of themselves and contribute to good health and medical care, which is why it becomes so serious when individuals use the system for their own gain, says Linnea Graaf.