Fake doctor operates in Tema for 6 years

A 45-year-old dispensing technician who is alleged to have been operating as a medical doctor and pharmacist for the past six years has been arrested by the police.

The suspect, identified as David Asare Darko, is said to be practising medicine and dentistry without qualification and a licence as a registered medical practitioner under the Health Professionals Regulatory Bodies Act.

According to the police, Darko was also operating as the owner of Darko Drug Store at the Tema European Market, where he offered his services as a medical doctor.

Tip off

Briefing journalists in Accra yesterday, the Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Commissioner of Police Mr Prosper K. Agblor, said the Ghana Medical and Dental Council had a tip off that the suspect, some time in September this year, held himself out as a medical doctor.

He said the council conducted various checks in its records on the suspect but found that he was not a registered member. 

According to Mr Agblor, the council made a complaint to the police, and with collaborated efforts, Darko was arrested on October 24, 2014.

He explained that Darko was using the drug store to render medical services and dispensing pharmaceutical drugs to individuals without the authority to do so.

The search

Although he had been working for the past six years as a doctor, Mr Agblor said, Darko operated without qualification and was not licensed to operate a drug store or sell pharmaceutical drugs.

A search conducted by the police and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) revealed a variety of pharmaceutical drugs and medical practising equipment such as a stethoscope.

According to Mr Agblor, unregistered drugs of different classes were also found in the store.

Some of the drugs included Mist Kaolin, magnesium triscilicate, Postinor 2 and Medic-55. 

He said the drugs had been handed over to the FDA for analysis, adding that the suspect would be arraigned soon.