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Unqualified man allegedly poses as doctor in Australia for over 10 years

The alleged suspect can not be located so it is not known when he will face court.

The alleged suspect can not be located so it is not known when he will face court. Photo: Getty

A “doctor” has been charged after he allegedly used another person’s name and medical qualifications to become a registered in NSW and practice for more than a decade.

However, it’s not clear if Shyam Acharya will face court as his whereabouts are unknown.

Acharya allegedly obtained stolen and fraudulent documents while living in India and used them to gain registration with the Medical Board of NSW, NSW Health deputy secretary Karen Crawshaw said in a statement on Tuesday.

He worked in the NSW public health system – specifically at Manly, Hornsby, Wyong and Gosford hospitals – from 2003 to 2014, Ms Crawshaw said.

NSW Health would not say whether Mr Acharya had any medical experience before working in Australia.

His status as a junior doctor with limited registration meant he was subject to supervision, Ms Crawshaw said.

She said Australia’s Health Practitioner Regulation Agency advised NSW Health it was investigating Acharya in 2016 – more than two years after he left the state’s public health system.

He has since been charged with a breach of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, and if convicted faces fines of up to $30,000.

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