In Italy, a corruption scandal in the region of Lombardy has exploded into the private healthcare sector. The Guardia di Finanza - the Ministry of Finance’s branch of the police force - is investigating staff and offices in private clinics in Varese, while in Milan regional director of healthcare services Carlo Lucchina has had his offices raided. Indictments handed down by the Italian courts have hit the heads of local Aziende Sanitari Locali (ASLs), the local-level purchasers of healthcare services, as well as clinic directors and politicians.