An unregistered doctor who treated patients and provided prescriptions at a GP clinic in Bunbury has been fined at Perth Magistrate’s Court.
Ramchander Karingula was found guilty of one charge of holding himself out as a registered practitioner and charged $12,500, plus $15,000 in court costs over a consultation that took place in 2023.
Karingula was initially registered as a medical practitioner in 2005, however he had a number of conditions imposed on his registration in 2014, including that he should not practise medicine until he had passed the RACGP fellowship exam.
However, he did not pass the exam and in 2019 transitioned to non-practising registration.
He did not renew his non-practising registration in October 2023 and became unregistered on November 1, 2023.
An investigation by Ahpra found Karingula was working at Fielder Street General Practice in Bunbury, where on November 4, 2023 he saw two patients who attended the clinic together.
Karingula consulted briefly with the patients who believed he was a medical practitioner. He provided them with three prescriptions; however these were issued in the name of a female registered medical practitioner.
When Ahpra began prosecution proceedings Karingula initially denied the conduct.
He pleaded guilty at Perth Magistrate’s Court last month. He was convicted and sentenced on November 27.
At the time of the offending, the maximum penalty for this type of offence was $30,000. In May 2024, the maximum penalties were increased to $60,000 and/or three years imprisonment due to the seriousness of the crime.
In sentencing, WA Chief Magistrate Steven Heath noted that the law was designed to protect people attending medical clinics seeking treatment.
Magistrate Heath observed that while Karingula had issued a guilty plea, he had been aware he was not registered and there was no explanation for his actions.
Ahpra chief executive Justin Untersteiner welcomed the outcome and said regulators must remain vigilant to protect the public.
“We will not hesitate to take action against people who falsely claim to have the skills, qualifications and experience necessary to practise safely,” he said.
“Australia has a high-quality health system because of the efforts of hard-working practitioners and the regulatory system that exists to uphold these professional standards.”
A doctor’s registration status and qualifications are searchable on Ahpra’s register of practitioners.
Prescriptions must be issued under the name of the prescribing practitioner, which is visible on the script and the label affixed to their medication by a pharmacist.
Anyone with further information is urged to contact Ahpra’s Criminal Offence Unit.
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