Bogus doctor bust in Havenside sting operation
The suspect’s wife is also believed to be a nurse at the same practice, who is not registered.
A middle-aged man was arrested in a sting operation, on Wednesday, after allegedly masquerading as a professional medical doctor and treating thousands of patients at a well-known surgery in Havenside.
Police and community leaders alike flocked to what once was the busy practice of the respected and decorated Dr Govindaraj Muruvan, to witness the arrest of his phoney replacement.
Reports from around the scene indicate that in the months following Dr Muruvan’s death in September 2020, the suspect approached the bereaved family to rent the Havenside surgery.
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Since then, the suspect, who is alleged to have never been registered as a doctor along with his wife, who acted as a nurse, despite also not being registered, and was instead a florist, saw hundreds and possibly thousands of residents from across Chatsworth.
Bayview SAPS communications officer, W/O Collin Chetty, said that on April 16, at approximately 11am, an investigating officer from the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) contacted the station commander of Bayview SAPS as they believed from their preliminary investigation, that there was an unregistered doctor who was practising at the premises of the late Dr Muruvan.
“The suspect’s wife is also believed to be a nurse at the same practice, who is not registered. When the official of HPCSA entered the premises with the police, the gentleman identified himself as a doctor of HPCSA. The official found information about a patient who was a child, who was treated earlier that day. The bogus doctor was charged as per the Health Profession Act of 1974, which states that no person shall practice within the Republic and Health Profession registered under this act. The suspect will appear in court soon,” said W/O Chetty.
Inside the home-based practice provided pungent smells and bins brimming with medical waste, with the most shocking realisation being that this fake doctor was making use of stamps branded with the name of Dr Muruvan.
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Prior to his arrest, the suspect allegedly treated a two-year-old child, who had been treated by the man previously. Rocky Naidoo, chairperson of the Havenside Civic Association, said, “We have been planning an operation, and have conducted a raid at the surgery where it was confirmed that his particular individual is no doctor, and has been operating using Dr G Muruvan’s details. The unfortunate scenario is that many people from this area have been treated by this particular bogus individual. You need to be very careful as to who you go to, and make sure you investigate the person’s qualifications first. The kind of risk that is associated with bogus people is huge, so we must be careful- how an individual was allowed to practice for well over three years, with nobody bothering to check his qualifications and authority boggles the mind. We are urging the residents who have been treated by this ‘doctor’ to please come forward, so as to assist in the investigations.”
The community is urged to check with the HPCSA website to ensure that medical practitioners are registered and if they aren’t, to report to the HPCSA.
