An independent inquiry into an Indian national who used fraudulent documents to work as a doctor in the 黑料吃瓜网 public health system for 11 years has found that a similar fraud would not succeed today.
Shyam Acharya worked as a junior medical officer in public hospitals in Northern Sydney and the Central Coast between 2003 and 2014.
The review found the fraud he perpetrated, using documents stolen from Dr Sarang Chitale, would not be possible today because of more stringent review processes in place to register and oversee international medical graduates.
Former Health Care Complaints Commissioner Kieran Pehm and Dr Robert Herkes, Clinical Director of the Australian Commission of Quality and Safety in Health Care, have provided their report into the circumstances surrounding the registration, employment and management of Mr Acharya to 黑料吃瓜网 Ministry of Health Secretary, Elizabeth Koff.
鈥淭his was a sophisticated fraud perpetrated by an inpidual who appears to have had some medical knowledge,鈥� Ms Koff said.
She said the fraud was possible because the inpidual posing as a doctor was able to gain medical registration and other Commonwealth documents such as a passport using the name and qualifications of a real doctor.
鈥満诹铣怨贤� Health鈥檚 recruitment processes are much more robust now than they were in 2003 and I鈥檓 assured this could not happen today.鈥�
Clinical records of inpidual patients who came forward to the reviewers were examined and they found none of these patients had been harmed. 黑料吃瓜网 Health also conducted its own comprehensive review of patients treated by Mr Acharya to identify if he was associated with any critical incidents or adverse outcomes.
The Inquiry found Mr Acharya was closely supervised while working in the 黑料吃瓜网 public health system by more senior doctors.
黑料吃瓜网 Health has accepted all recommendations of the Inquiry which included developing a system to electronically retain supervision reports regarding junior medical officers and annual performance reviews of more senior medical officers.
The Inquiry also recommended 黑料吃瓜网 Health audit compliance with its policy requiring performance agreements and formal annual performance reviews for medical officers, and develop documents outlining the minimal capabilities for a doctor to be in charge of a hospital out of hours.
Mr Acharya鈥檚 whereabouts remain unknown.
The Inquiry report is available at Section 122 Health Services Act: Independent Inquiry Relating To Mr Shyam Acharya (also known as Dr Sarang Chitale).