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15 Jul 2015
The Medical Board of Australia today issued a blunt warning to overseas doctors about a fraudulent medical registration and employment racket.
‘There are no short cuts to medical registration in Australia, so overseas practitioners should make sure they get information from reputable third parties only and double check any advice with information published on the Medical Board of Australia and AMC websites,’ said MBA Chair, Dr Joanna Flynn AM.
The Board advised international medical practitioners to take care before handing over money or official registration documents to anyone purporting to arrange medical registration in Australia.
The Board issued the warning after reviewing documents provided by a doctor based in the Middle East interested in practising in Australia. The doctor contacted the Board after being issued with a fraudulent registration card and number, and then asked for a second payment from a third party in Australia, to finalise a job offer in Australia.
The fraudulent documents use the wrong name for the Medical Board of Australia, the Australian Medical Council and the fake employer who is listed on the documents as the Eastern Health Center, Level 45 Arnold St, Box Hill, Victoria, 3128, Australia.
Eastern Health has reported on their website that they have received reports that individuals are being solicited via email by an organisation pretending to recruit on behalf of or pretending to work for Eastern Health. Eastern Health has confirmed that these emails are fraudulent.
The Medical Board of Australia sets the professional standards that all registered medical practitioners must meet, and with the Australian Medical Council and other medical authorities, assesses international applicants for registration to make sure they have the skills to provide safe care in Australia.
“There are a number of established pathways to registration in Australia and they all involve robust assessment, and thorough document and identity checking,’ Dr Flynn said.
‘International medical practitioners play an important role in Australia’s health workforce and the Board is concerned that good doctors from overseas could get misled or deceived,’ Dr Flynn said.
Information about the registration pathway for international medical graduates is published on the Medical Board of Australia website, under registration.
If you have a concern, contact the Board via AHPRA or via telephone on 1300 419 495 (in Australia).
Download a PDF of this Media statement - Board warns overseas doctors of fraudulent registration and employment racket - 15 July 2015 (259 KB,PDF)