An Indian man is alleged to have become an Australian citizen and practised as a doctor using the identity of an Indian doctor. The man whose current whereabouts are unknown is facing a penalty of $30,000.
Shyam Acharya worked at four different public hospitals in Gosford, Wyong and Hornsby as a junior doctor under the name Sarang Chitale for eleven years, the reports.
He got himself registered with the Medical Council of New South Wales allegedly using fraudulent documents, in 2003.
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency informed NSW Health in November last year that it was investigating Shyam Acharya for holding himself out as a medical practitioner.
He is reported to have stolen the identity of an Indian doctor before coming to Australia and getting Australia citizenship.
There was concern about once incident where he was involved in treating a patient. NSW Health said Mr Acharya’s involvement was only as a part of a team that worked under the supervision of other clinicians.
NSW Health's deputy secretary Karen Crawshaw
"The root cause of this was false identity to get into the country in the first place," said NSW Health’s deputy secretary Karen Crawshaw.
The department confirmed the documentation that got him registered was legitimate documentation of a doctor.
"We now require written references and contact directly referees of doctors seeking employment," Ms Crawshaw said.
