A BOGUS doctor who operated as a general practitioner (GP) from the surgery of the late Dr Govindaraj Muruvan, in Havenside Drive, in Chatsworth, treating hundreds of patients over the last three years, was arrested during a sting operation, last week.

Ashley Ramsarup, 51, of Bellair, was arrested last Thursday and appeared in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on charges of illegally practising medicine. It is alleged that Ramsurap had issued a medical certificate under the name of Dr Muruvan to the investigator from the Health Professions Council of South Africa, who posed as a patient during their investigation.

He was granted R2 000 bail at the Bayview SAPS after his arrest. The matter was adjourned to next month for further investigation.

Provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said Bayview police arrested Ramsarup for allegedly contravening the Health Profession Act of 1974.

“He was found to be practising as a health practitioner without proper documentation, in Havenside,” he said.

Ramsarup’s arrest was part of an ongoing crackdown on unregistered medical practitioners by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). HPCSA inspectorate officials uncovered unlawful medical activities at the medical centre, where Ramsarup was found practising without registration, the council said in a statement.

“He was arrested on site and faces charges of fraud and contravening sections 17, 39, and 40 of the Health Professions Act, 56 of 1974.”

A police source said Ramsarup was arrested after an investigating officer from the HPCSA contacted them following a preliminary investigation.

“The information they received was that an unregistered doctor was practicing at the premises of the late Dr Muruvan. The bogus doctor’s wife was also alleged to have worked as a nurse at the same practice. When the HPCSA officer entered the premises with the police, the man identified himself as a doctor and he claimed he was registered with the council. The official found records of a two-year-old child who had been treated by the bogus doctor earlier that day,” the source said.

Rajesh Balram, chairperson of the Havenside Community Policing Forum, said the man had practiced at the Havenside surgery since 2022 and hundreds of unsuspecting people had been treated by him over the years.

Rocky Naidoo, chairperson of the Havenside Civic Association, said it was of concern that a bogus doctor had been operating undetected for so many years.

“The so-called doctor was practicing at the surgery of a respected general practitioner who is now deceased. Therefore his misconduct went unnoticed. It begs the question of poor compliance on the part of the health department. The said bogus person was treating people undetected. In fact, at the time of arrest, he had just treated a small child.

"We urge our communities to be vigilant and always verify doctors who are treating them. The man was issuing medical certificates and the group of doctors whose practice numbers were used by this man needs to be investigated,” he said.

A community leader from Bayview, who did not want to be named, said he had consulted with the bogus doctor soon after he had taken over Dr Muruvan’s practice.

“I was not aware that he was not a registered doctor, especially since he was practising out of the rooms of a previous doctor who the community trusted.

“When I was sick recently, I went to him and he gave me an injection and medication. I visited him often and started to establish a positive relationship with him. He was very caring towards patients.

“But I feel like I was let down and I put my health at risk, because I do not know if whatever he was telling me or prescribing to me was right. I’m still a bit confused after hearing news that he was a bogus doctor. Honestly, I was feeling better after my visit to his surgery,” the community leader said.

Ishwar Naidoo, a resident of Havenside, who visited the doctor on three occasions last year, said the doctor was “polite, intelligent, and clued up with health issues”.

He said the doctor told him that he had worked as a medical practitioner in the South African Army.

“The doctor seemed to have vast knowledge in the medical field and he treated us well. He was caring and always offered us advice. I was shocked to hear that he was not registered. He was helpful to the community and offered discounted rates to pensioners and those who could not afford the normal rates.

“This baffles me, but I guess if someone wants to dupe you into believing that they are legitimate, and gain support, they would go the extra mile to keep their clients,” he said.

The HPCSA appeals to the public to verify the credentials of healthcare practitioners by using the “Search the Register” function on www.hpcsa.co.zaTo report suspected illegal practices email: InspectorateOffice@hpcsa.co.za

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Bogus doctor arrested for illegally practising in Chatsworth