Dr Sarang Chitale whose identity stolen by conman Shyam Acharya is ‘shocked and distressed’

THE well-respected specialist, whose identity was stolen by fraudster Shyam Acharya, has been found and is “distressed” by the news.

Police are hunting Shyam Acharya who stole Sarang Chitale’s name and medical credentials Picture: AAP

• Police hunt ‘impostor doctor’ on the run
• Conman worked in NSW hospitals for 11 years
• Man stole Indian doctor’s identity
• Fraud doctor invited to work in Australia

EXCLUSIVE

THE doctor, whose identity was stolen by a fraudster who worked in NSW’s hospitals, has been revealed to be a respected specialist in the UK.

Dr Sarang Chitale’s family has described the revelation that Shyam Archarya stole his identity and treated patients in hospitals and emergency departments for more than 10 years, as nothing short of “distressing and shocking”.

Speaking from his home in Warrington, in Cheshire, in the northwest of England, Dr Chitale said “I’m not talking anything about it” before leaving to work at a medical practice outside of nearby Manchester.

The real Dr Sarang Chitale, whose identity and medical qualifications were stolen by Shyam Acharya, leaves his home in Warrington, England. Picture: Matthew Pover

The rheumatology specialist’s identity was used by 41-year-old Archarya, an Indian, to masquerade as a doctor in Sydney for 11 years.

After Dr Chitale, who is originally from India, left for work, his wife told News Corp Australia that he had been advised not to speak. Dr Chitale works from three medical clinics near Manchester where he treats patients with severe arthritis and joint disorders.

“He has been advised not to talk to anybody while there is an ongoing investigation,” she said.

“It is quite distressing and shocking ... there is nothing we can do, all we can do is carry on.”

The woman would not specify whether the investigation was being conducted by British or Australian authorities.

Shyam Acharya assumed the identity of Dr Chitale and worked in the NSW health system for 11 years.

Using the doctor’s credentials, Acharya was able to gain work at Sydney medical research company Novotech and was even granted citizenship in 2013. It was Novotech, where Acharya worked from June 2015 to September 2016, who raised the alarm before official investigations were launched.

In his absence, Acharya has been charged with falsely holding himself out as a medical practitioner — an offence that carries a fine of up to $30,000.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard is pushing to elevate his maximum penalty from a fine to a jail term describing him as a “master conman”.

Acharya entered Australia in 2003 using a passport under the name Sarang Prakash Chitale.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard is pushing to elevate his maximum penalty from a fine to a jail term describing him as a “master conman”.

Shyam Acharya's passport, which states he is Sarang Chitale, who News Corp Australia tracked down to be a medical specialist in the UK. Picture: AAP

The real Dr Sarang Chitale, pictured outside his home in Warrington, England, is said to be ‘disrressed and shcoked’ at the revelations. Picture: Matthew Pover

Health authorities though are refusing to detail what medical care was given by Acharya over the 11 years he treated patients, as pressure mounts for an independent inquiry into the shocking bungle.

Former Manly Hospital colleagues recall the fraudster administering drugs, overseeing interns­ and holding a “senior role” in the busy emergency department.

His deception went undetected at Manly Hospital for six years until he quit in 2014, telling colleagues he had “had enough of working nights”. NSW Health insists Acharya was only a junior doctor but has refused to reveal what medical care the 41-year-old provided in the more than a decade he worked at Gosford, Wyong, Hornsby and Manly Hospitals.

Acharya stole credentials from Dr Sarang Chitale while in India and travelled to Australia under that name in 2002 on a tourist visa. He returned in 2003 after being recruited by NSW Health’s skilled migration program.

A Manly Hospital security guard said Acharya had acted as a “senior doctor” in the emergency department. “He was the senior doctor in charge for the 10pm-8am night shifts … he trained the interns and they would all report to him,” the security guard, who did not want to be named, said.

“You would have never guessed, personally I’m in total shock. He would treat everyone you see through an ED so broken legs, mental health patients, car crash victims, you name it.”

A local health district spokesman said Acharya was “only ever employed as a junior doctor­ with access­ to senior consultant advice”.

However a nurse said Acharya had been the “senior registrar” on night shifts, adding he was “very competent ... it makes me believe that he had some sort of medical training.”

NSW Health would not comment on the nature of Acharya’s employment, saying only: “Doctors employed in NSW hospitals treat patients of all ages and prescribe and administer drugs ... we are unable to provide any further information for fear of prejudicing current or potential future prosecutions.”

The Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Authority has brought charges against Acharya but he has fled the country.

Opposition Health spokesman Walt Secord called for an independent external investigation.

“It is perplexing as to why (authorities) would not reveal whether the fake doctor performed procedures or his activities as a doctor,” he said.