An Australian woman is among 17 foreign doctors arrested in Nepal for practicing without the right accreditation.

Sarah Kemp, 39, usually works as a GP in Sydney, but had moved with her family to Nepal to practice medicine in a travel clinic.

The director of the clinic, which serves foreign diplomats, tourists and aid workers, was also taken into custody by police but was later released.

The 17 doctors working at several hospitals across Kathmandu were arrested after Nepal’s top medical body initiated a crackdown against foreigners practicing without proper accreditation.

The Kathmandu travel medicine clinic where Sarah Kemp was working when she was arrested. Photo: CIWEC Hospital

Nepali police said their investigation was prompted by concerns about consumer rights.

“They breached the law here,” Pushkar Karki, the director of Nepal’s Central Investigation bureau, said.

“They were found working illegally, practicing in Nepal without any permit and registration from the Nepal Medical Council.”

Any doctors found practicing medicine in Nepal without permission from the country’s medical board are liable for up to three years’ imprisonment.

Local police said they had informed the Australian Embassy in Kathmandu of the arrests.

– ABC