In edition 161 of BC Disease News, we reported on the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) revised MedCo Qualifying Criteria aimed at reducing the number of shell companies created to farm work.
This week it has been reported that since publication of the new criteria, 134 shell companies, created by registered Medical Reporting Organisations (MROs), have been suspended by MedCo after they failed to meet the new requirements by the deadline of 8th November 2016.[i]
The new rules stipulate that all MROs must provide evidence that they are independent, properly staffed and resourced and directly and solely responsible for all work once instructions are received.
Those that have been suspended had failed to do so and will no longer appear on the MRO search offer.
[i] John Hyde, ‘MedCo Suspends 134 Shell Companies As New Rules Kick In’ (The Law Society Gazette 9 November 2016)< https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/medco-suspends-134-shell-companies-as-new-rules-kick-in/5058715.article> accessed 10 November 2016.