Man sentenced for holding himself out as a registered medical practitioner

01 Dec 2025

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) has prosecuted a man for holding himself out as a registered medical practitioner in contravention of section 116 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law 2010 (National Law).

Ramchander Karingula was initially registered as a medical practitioner in 2005. In 2014, he had a number of conditions imposed on his registration, including that he must not practise medicine until he had passed the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners fellowship exam. This never occurred, and in 2019 Mr Karingula transitioned to non-practising registration. He did not renew his non-practising registration in October 2023 and became unregistered on 1 November 2023.

An investigation by Ahpra found Mr Karingula was working at the Fielder Street General Practice, in Bunbury, Western Australia, during 2023. On 4 November 2023, two patients attended the clinic together. Mr Karingula consulted briefly with them and provided them with three prescriptions. These prescriptions were issued in the name of a female registered medical practitioner.

The patients believed Mr Karingula was a medical practitioner. Ahpra prosecuted the man and on 4 November 2025 he pleaded guilty to one charge of holding himself out as a registered practitioner.

On 27 November 2025, Mr Karingula was convicted and sentenced in the Perth Magistrates Court. He was fined $12,500 and ordered to pay Ahpra’s legal costs of $15,000.

At the time of the offending, the maximum penalty for this type of offence was $30,000. In May 2024, the maximum penalties were increased to $60,000 and/or 3 years imprisonment due to the seriousness of the crime.

In sentencing, WA Chief Magistrate Steven Heath noted that the National Law was designed to protect people attending medical clinics seeking treatment. His Honour observed that while Mr Karingula had pleaded guilty there was no explanation for why he did what he did. There were also aggravating factors because Mr Karingula was aware he was not registered, and he initially denied the conduct.

Ahpra CEO Justin Untersteiner welcomed the court outcome and said regulators must remain vigilant to protect the public.

‘We will not hesitate to take action against people who falsely claim to have the skills, qualifications and experience necessary to practise safely,’ Mr Untersteiner said.

‘Australia has a high-quality health system because of the efforts of hard-working practitioners and the regulatory system that exists to uphold these professional standards.’

Medical Board of Australia Chair, Dr Susan O’Dwyer, said the National Law was designed to protect patients.

‘Individuals who are not registered must not mislead the public into thinking they are. Those who mislead patients breach the community’s trust and face serious consequences,’ Dr O’Dwyer said.

Patients can check the registration status and qualifications of their doctor on Ahpra’s searchable Register of practitioners.

Prescriptions must be issued under the name of the prescribing practitioner, which is visible on the script and the label affixed to their medication by a pharmacist.

Members of the public who attended Fielder Street General Practice and believe they were treated by Mr Karingula, or obtained a prescription with a different practitioner’s name to the one they consulted, should contact a registered GP.

Anyone with further information is urged to contact Ahpra’s Criminal Offence Unit.