Chitchat [Medical Alert] Fake doctor (race?) in Oz told neighbours he went to Sinkiel

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

'Fake doctor' Shyam Acharya 'told his neighbours he went to Singapore'

Updated Sat at 12:38pm

Key points:

• A clinical research company reported a doctor working for them to the medical practitioners registry last year
• Many government agencies are now making inquiries into the fraudulent doctor, including the Department of Immigration and Border Protection
• The fake doctor used the identity of a respected rheumatology doctor who is still practising in the UK

PHOTO: Shyam Acharya allegedly practiced under Sarang Chitale's name for 11 years. (Supplied)

Neighbours of the man who allegedly pretended to be Dr Sarang Chitale say they have not seen him for months and when they contacted him he told them he was working overseas.

Shyam Acharya allegedly masqueraded as UK doctor Sarang Chitale in four New South Wales public hospitals over a decade.
The ABC understands Mr Acharya has left the country.

"I have been doing a lot of back and forth trips to Singapore. I will be back on 31st March," a text message reportedly sent from Mr Acharya to his neighbours in January read.

Neighbours confirmed the man lived at the property with his young daughter and his wife, who they said kept to herself.

Residents in North Ryde said the man was a nice person and a good neighbour.

They said they had no reason to be suspect he was not qualified and appeared to know what he was doing when he recommended treatment for one of the neighbour's sick children.

Plans to seize North Ryde home

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has confirmed he plans to seize a home owned by Mr Acharya in North Ryde worth a reported $1.5 million, taking back wages earnt from working in the state's public hospitals.

He said money from the sale of the home would go towards recouping the wages paid to the fraudulent doctor by NSW Health, which brought Mr Acharya into the country in 2003 on a skilled migration visa.

"We will be doing everything we can to recover the cost of the house so taxpayers can get their money back," Mr Hazzard said.

"He owes us that money."

Mr Hazzard is also pushing for an independent review into the incidentto restore faith in NSW Health.

Mr Acharya is alleged to have fraudulently gained registration with the Medical Board of NSW in 2003 and worked as a doctor in Wyong, Gosford, Hornsby and Manly.

He also worked for pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, followed by clinical research company Novotech, who alerted authorities to their suspicions of fraud last year.

Mr Acharya is now facing charges of breaching the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law in a Sydney court.

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection said it was aware of visa fraud allegations and investigations were underway.
PHOTO: The Government said they would use Shyam Acharya's Sydney home to claw back public funds. (Supplied: Google Maps)
Real Dr Chitale a valued member in NHS Trust

A branch of Britain's National Health Service (NHS) said it was "shocked" to hear the identity of one of its doctors was allegedly being misused.

The real Dr Chitale works in England with the Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust.

They released a statement calling Dr Chitale a "valued member" of the rheumatology department.

"We were shocked to hear of the deception that had taken place in Australia in Dr Chitale's name," the statement read.

"The General Medical Council is aware of the fraud and has been helping the Australian health authorities with their investigations.

"We would like to stress that Dr Chitale is very much the victim in this diabolical fraudulent act.


"The trust is providing Dr Chitale all the support and advice he needs to deal with this very upsetting case of identity theft."





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