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Fake 'doctor' allegedly used stolen documents to work in NSW hospitals Fake 'doctor' allegedly used stolen documents to work in NSW hospitals
(about 4 hours later)
A “doctor” has been charged after he allegedly used another person’s name and medical qualifications to become a registered in New South Wales and practice for more than a decade. An allegedly fake doctor who worked for more than a decade in Sydney and on the central coast is believed to have fled the country.
However, it’s not clear if Shyam Acharya will face court as his whereabouts are unknown. Shyam Acharya allegedly used another person’s name and medical qualifications to become registered in NSW. He worked at Manly, Hornsby, Wyong and Gosford hospitals from 2003 to 2014 after assuming the identity of doctor Sarang Chitale.
Acharya allegedly obtained stolen and fraudulent documents while living in India and used them to gain registration with the Medical Board of NSW, NSW Health deputy secretary Karen Crawshaw said in a statement on Tuesday. Acharya allegedly stole documents while living in India and used them to register with the Medical Board of NSW, the NSW Health deputy secretary Karen Crawshaw revealed on Tuesday.
He worked in the NSW public health system – specifically at Manly, Hornsby, Wyong and Gosford hospitals – from 2003 to 2014, Crawshaw said. Acharya has been charged by Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and faces being fined up to $30,000.
NSW Health would not say whether Acharya had any medical experience before working in Australia. His status as a junior doctor with limited registration meant he was subject to supervision, Crawshaw said. However, it’s not clear if he will face court because it’s believed he is overseas, the health minister, Brad Hazzard, said on Wednesday.
She said Australia’s Health Practitioner Regulation Agency advised NSW Health it was investigating Acharya in 2016 – more than two years after he left the state’s public health system. It was “disturbing” Acharya allegedly got through border protection with a false passport after assuming the identity of a doctor in India, Hazzard said.
He has since been charged with a breach of the health practitioner regulation national law, and if convicted faces fines of up to $30,000. He will raise the issue at this month’s Coag health minister’s meeting to ensure checks and balances are in place at a national level so the alleged ruse can’t be repeated.
“The Ministry of Health has advised me there have been substantial changes since 2003 in the checks that are made, but I want health to revisit the issue and make absolutely certain that the new federal registration process operating since 2011 is as scrupulous as can be,” Hazzard said in statement.
“I have also directed the Ministry of Health to look at every aspect of registration to make sure that NSW Health has done whatever it can to look beyond fake passports with particular reference to going back to primary documents from country of origin.”
AMA NSW president, Prof Brad Frankum said the accreditation process from medical colleges today was very rigorous for doctors from overseas.
“There is a requirement now for a verbal referee check from somebody who has worked with the individual overseas which wasn’t in place back in 2003,” he said.
NSW Health would not say whether Acharya had any medical experience before working in Australia, but his status as a junior doctor with limited registration meant he was subject to supervision, Crawshaw said.
Acharya was involved in one critical incident where there were concerns about a patient’s treatment, but only as one of several people on the clinical team.
NSW Health received no further complaints about the doctor.
Australia’s Health Practitioner Regulation Agency advised NSW Health it was investigating Acharya in 2016 – more than two years after he left the state’s public health system.
He has since been charged with a breach of the health practitioner regulation national law.
Ahpra’s case against Acharya was mentioned in the Downing centre local court on Monday.