DIMAPUR, May 2: A fake doctor who claimed to possess an MBBS degree and had been practicing medicine in Dimapur, Nagaland for years has been arrested.
Dimapur Commissioner of Police Kevithuto Sophie told media persons in his office chamber on Friday that one Albert P. Lotha, a resident of NST Colony, Dimapur, was arrested following a complaint from the Nagaland Medical Council.
The council, in its complaint, stated that Lotha was treating patients without the requisite registration, which is mandatory under the Medical Council Act 2014, Chapter III, Section 16(6).
Sophie said that during the inquiry, Dimapur police confirmed that Lotha had been impersonating a medical doctor and practicing medicine without the necessary qualifications. He added that the impersonator neither possessed the required medical degree nor was registered with the Nagaland Medical Council.
The Commissioner of Police said the fake doctor was practicing from a premier pharmacy, Medical Hall, located in New Market, Dimapur.
During the investigation, Lotha claimed to have acquired the MBBS degree from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, in 2014. However, when police inquired with the institute, it was found that Lotha had taken admission in 2008 but did not even complete one year. Sophie added that Lotha had befriended certain medical doctors and was practicing “smartly.”
A case has been registered against Lotha under relevant provisions of law. The investigation is ongoing to determine the extent of the impersonation and the potential harm caused to innocent patients who were unaware of the fake persona.
Dimapur police urged the public to exercise caution and verify the qualifications and credentials of medical professionals when seeking treatment. Sophie also advised citizens to report any suspected person practicing medicine without a valid document or certificate to the police, saying it is a team effort to create a safe medical environment for all.
