Bogus neurosurgeon practised for 4 years

[SinghDude]

Internal registration procedures within the country’s professional health body are to blame for a four-year stint, in three Gauteng health facilities, of a Congolese doctor who worked as a neurosurgeon until he was deregistered for presenting fake credentials in December last year.

Dr Nyunyi Wambuyi Katumba arrived in SA after being fired from Botswana and Zimbabwe for shoddy work and poor performance, and managed to by-pass the Health Professions Council’s (HPCSA) strict screening and registration processes to work at Pretoria’s Steve Biko Academic Hospital and Mediclinic Medforum, and at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Joburg.

He had initially presented his credentials to the HPCSA in 2004, when he applied for registration as a specialist neurologist, but he failed an entry exam. He resurfaced a year later, applying on the lower level of a general practitioner.

“We have evidence that he sat for the exam again, but there are no records of the results,” HPCSA president Professor Sam Mokgokong said on Thursday.

Admitting in a media briefing that his body was responsible for giving Katumba certification in a flawed process which saw the submission of false information, he said: “False information that Dr Katumba possessed all the right papers and that he passed the necessary examinations was submitted to the subcommittee for postgraduate education and training, which went on to approve the registration and allowed him to practise.”

Investigations by the HPCSA, after complaints from Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital about Katumba’s lack of skills last year, brought at least three people from within that body under the spotlight. They will have to answer on the submission of the false information and the lack of some necessary certified professional copies and qualifications.

“The HPCSA registered Katumba based on that information,” said Mokgokong.

The doctor went on to work at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, under the direct supervision of Mokgokong. He was given a three-year contract and a 12-month probation period, which was extended by a further year when it became apparent that he had inadequate skills. “We picked up an uncertainty about his work and we doubted his skills, so we put him under additional probation so that we could monitor him,” hospital CEO Earnest Kenoshi said.

Kenoshi told the Pretoria News that Katumba had displayed inadequacies and incompetence.

“His skills in diagnosing and his lack of logic when handling issues became apparent,” Kenoshi said.

After two years, the hospital sacked him, but when the case of unfair dismissal was taken to the Council for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) Katumba won and then applied for a position at Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital, where he worked from the end of 2010.

The head of critical care at Baragwanath became suspicious of his skill level. “She called me in August last year and said not only was he incompetent in neurosurgery, but she doubted his competence as a doctor,” Mokgokong said.

An investigation started, which resulted in Katumba’s being struck off the roll in December last year.

“We found that someone from the Post Graduate Education and Training board had been instrumental in the supply of wrong information,” he said. The registrar, who is the accounting officer, was directly responsible for providing an explanation, but, said Mokgokong, he was suspended over other unrelated issues.

Katumba also held a cessional doctor’s position at Mediclinic Medforum last year. He had a private practice as a specialist surgeon. Hospital manager Joey le Roux said on Thursday: “He was a consultant for a year, and when we heard that he had been removed from the register, we immediately asked him to leave.”

He practised alone in his rooms, which are on the hospital premises. “He performed some surgery, very few though, because he was working (here) part-time,” Le Roux said.

On Thursday, Mokgokong said their hands were tied regarding bringing any charges against Katumba.

Said acting registrar and CEO Dr Kgosi Letlape: “If there is a claim against the care received from him, we can base any action against him on that.” The doctor had not killed anyone, Mokgokong added, and they both explained that although he had falsely presented himself it was the council which had given him the right to practise in SA.

Source

:twisted::twisted::twisted:

Bastid !!!!

 

[zizo911]

Was he even a real doctor?

 

[snobee]

Yes, it seems so. I must take some balls to pull this off. I wouldn't be surprised if he did have some medical profession behind him, as you don't just pretend to be a doctor and get away with it. Especially prescribing drugs, etc. So he probably was a doctor or at least studied for a few years. Whatever the case, this type of thing really makes me sick, as the health profession is such a trust based one. So many people would have trusted him. I realise those that put him in power should be also looked at, but he should definitely go to prison for this.

 

[Thugscub]

We have a private doc for Joolias and Showerman.

 

[reedOsama]

After two years, the hospital sacked him, but when the case of unfair dismissal was taken to the Council for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) Katumba won and then applied for a position at Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital, where he worked from the end of 2010.

The guy has some major balls to complain about being sacked knowing he isn't even qualified!

 

[Hemi300c]

Said acting registrar and CEO Dr Kgosi Letlape: “If there is a claim against the care received from him, we can base any action against him on that.” The doctor had not killed anyone, Mokgokong added, and they both explained that although he had falsely presented himself it was the council which had given him the right to practise in SA.

Just another sign of the incompetent regulatory body.........

 

[w1z4rd]

I dont understand how this is possible. One of the requirements to coming here as an international doctor is you have to have your credentials vetted by an international body that specializes in confirming doctor credentials. Im guessing the HPCSA (who are a bunch of useless inbred appointed ANC cadre`s).... were not doing their jobs again. This is normal for the HPCSA. The single most useless org in the world.

I know I had to pay R1500 just to have my wifes credentials vetted by this international body. Glad to see it was money well spent and the HPCSA actually read them... </sarcasm>