A man who had worked as a doctor in the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, for about two years has been found to hold an MBBS degree that does not belong to him, district health officials said, according to Amar Ujala and NPG News.

A joint team from the Surguja Chief Medical and Health Officer's office, led by nodal officer Dr P K Sinha, inspected Shri Mahavir Hospital and checked the degrees and registration papers of its doctors and staff.

What the inspection found

When asked for his qualifications, the man produced an MBBS degree. Scanning the QR code on the document brought up the details of a different doctor, the reports said. NPG News reported that Dr Sinha said the registration belonged to a doctor from Ranchi district in Jharkhand, and that officials suspect the record had been altered to show the worker's name.

Amar Ujala reported that a medical laboratory technician at the hospital was also found working without valid documents, and that the department issued the hospital a show-cause notice asking why it had not checked the man's degree and registration before hiring him.

Police action

Surguja Collector Ajit Vasant directed that an FIR be registered, both outlets reported. NPG News said a case was registered at Gandhinagar police station under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which covers cheating. No arrest has been reported. The man is accused, not convicted.

NPG News also reported that he had been placed at the hospital through an outsourcing firm, and that investigators are examining how he came to work in the ICU without his credentials being verified and how many patients he treated.

Checking a doctor's credentials

A QR code on a certificate is only as reliable as the website it opens. Hospitals and staffing agencies should confirm a doctor's registration on the official state medical council or National Medical Commission register, match the name and registration number against government identity documents, and verify the degree with the issuing university before a doctor treats patients.

Sources

This News Desk report summarises information published by the sources above, written in our own words. Persons named in criminal matters are accused, not convicted, unless a court has ruled otherwise. To report an error, use our contact page.

ChhattisgarhFake MBBS degreeHospital inspectionMedical credentials

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