Pakistani national to appear in court for doctor impersonation

Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers have arrested a 50-year-old foreign national for allegedly practising as a medical doctor without qualifications or registration at a clinic on South Road in Midrand.

The suspect is expected to appear in court on Monday.

According to the JMPD Tactical Response Unit, officers acted on information about an unregistered medical practitioner operating at the clinic.

When police arrived, they found the woman actively consulting with two patients.

No proof of registration or doctor training

Officers requested documents authorising her to practise medicine, including a valid Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) practice number.

She failed to produce any proof of registration or qualifications.

During questioning, the suspect admitted that she had never completed medical training and did not hold any certificates allowing her to practise as a doctor.

She also confessed to working as a “doctor” for more than ten years without legal credentials.

Police seized six patients’ files from the clinic, along with several items from the consulting room.

These included prescription pads, sick notes, eye screening certificates, PCRDP certificates, and documents bearing the names of other registered medical practitioners.

Some of the seized material appeared to have been misused in her practice.

Fraud and Health Professions Act charges

Police arrested the woman on charges of fraud and contravention of the Health Professions Act.

The Act makes it a criminal offence to practise any healthcare profession without registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).

Authorities said the criminal process is under way.