Zimbabwean, Zambian arrested for masquerading as medical doctors at University Teaching Hospital

Police in Lusaka have arrested a Zimbabwean national and his Zambian colleague for impersonating medical doctors at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

Police Spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga, stated that the arrests were made by Kabwata Police following a report from Dr. Prince Kanyinda, a UTH medical doctor.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Lusaka, Hamoonga explained that Dr. Kanyinda reported individuals falsely presenting themselves as UTH medical doctors.

The suspects, operating within UTH, were found prescribing expensive National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) pre-authorization services and drugs to NHIMA-affiliated patients.

“This activity prompted NHIMA to query UTH management, who then identified the two individuals masquerading as medical doctors,” Hamoonga said.

The suspects were identified as Amon Muchosa, a Zimbabwean national residing in the Ngombe area and claiming to be a sixth-year medical student at UNZA, and Chibwe Kansumba, an Environmental Health Officer and employee of Bharat Serum Vaccine Limited residing in the Chalala area.

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Hamoonga said the fraudulent activities had been ongoing since 2017 and continued until July 16, 2024.

“During this period, the suspects have been falsely operating as doctors under UTH, prescribing expensive drugs to patients,” he stated.

The discovery led NHIMA to conduct an audit, during which UTH management was questioned about the doctors prescribing drugs to NHIMA patients. UTH management then alerted the police, resulting in the duo’s apprehension.

“It has been confirmed that these suspects are not employees of UTH. They have since been detained for the offenses of impersonation, forgery and uttering false documents,” Hamoonga said.

He commended the vigilance of UTH management and NHIMA in uncovering this fraudulent activity and urged the public to report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.

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