Tibor Ibolya said that the defendant had worked in a hospital in Budapest, and, often dissatisfied with the “tips” offered by patients, used to demand a higher amount.

The doctor would also go into a bargain over the gratuities, or offer that the patient could pay in instalments.

The court found him guilty of accepting a bribe from patients on nine occasions, handed him a two-year prison term and banned him from practising his profession for three years, the prosecutor said.

Both the prosecutor and the defendant have appealed against the ruling.