A doctor who worked at the National Cancer Center Hospital East in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, which plays a central role in cancer research in Japan, was arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of bribery for receiving approximately 170.<> million yen in cash in exchange for using medical equipment from a Tokyo manufacturer for surgery, according to interviews with investigators.
Among those arrested was Yusuke Hashimoto, 47, a former medical director of the National Cancer Center Hospital East in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, and an associate professor at the University of Florida.
In addition, Noboru Yanagida, 67, former president of Zeon Medical, a medical device manufacturer in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, was arrested on suspicion of bribery.
According to those involved in the investigation, Dr. Hashimoto is suspected of bribery in FY2 when he was serving as the chief of hepatobiliary and pancreatic medicine at the National Cancer Center Hospital East Reiwa, and received 1,1 yen for each surgery of a device called a stent manufactured by Zeon Medical used for catheter treatment in FY170.
The selling price of each stent was about 1,17 yen, and it is believed that former President Yanagida gave cash as a rebate under the guise of rewarding the hospital for an investigation to confirm the effectiveness and safety of the stent by instructing his subordinates.
The Metropolitan Police Department seems to have sold the product to other hospitals using the same sales method, and we will investigate the details of the sales.