The fake doctor who operated out of Mpilo Central Hospital for two years before being discovered had an office at the facility, treating unsuspecting patients during that time.
The hospital’s chief medical officer, Dr. Narcisius Dzvanga, revealed the details in an interview with The Sunday News, expressing disbelief over how Taurai Prosper Vanhuvaone, the 29-year-old imposter, had managed to work undetected for so long.
He was arrested and is facing charges of fraud and misrepresentation.
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Fake Mpilo Hospital Doctor Had An Office
Dr. Dzvanga explained that Vanhuvaone had been using the same consultation room for months and was even provided with a desk and chair to operate as if he were a legitimate physician.
“He was using a room (to consult), the same room for all those months or years he was here, and someone gave him a desk and a chair to use,” Dr. Dzvanga said.
The bogus doctor would take patients directly from the out-patient queue and charge them for consultations, pocketing the fees.
The ruse might have continued if it weren’t for Vanhuvaone’s greed. He was caught when one of his patients, short by US$12, was running around trying to gather the money he demanded.
“If he had not been greedy and accepted the money, US$12 less, maybe he would still be seeing patients,” Dr. Dzvanga remarked.
How Taurai Vanhuvaone Slid From Authorities
Despite his presence at Mpilo Hospital, Vanhuvaone somehow managed to avoid detection by many senior staff members, including Dr. Dzvanga himself.
“I am a practising physician. I have not seen him anywhere before in the corridors. Maybe he knew how to avoid me,” said Dr. Dzvanga, who has been at the hospital for a year and a half.
Vanhuvaone also allegedly posed as a doctor at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), claiming he had been seconded from Mpilo. When his presence at one hospital raised suspicion, he would claim to be assigned to the other.
According to Dr. Dzvanga, Vanhuvaone had a history of pretending to be a medical professional, including once posing as a medical student. He also reportedly had a previous case involving an assault charge. Hospital authorities are now investigating how the imposter managed to integrate himself into the system for such an extended period.
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The post Fake Mpilo Hospital Doctor Had An Office For Years At The Institution appeared first on iHarare News.
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