Panel Tasked To Probe Credentials Of Doctors To Uncover Fake Certificates

The Ministry of Health has established a committee to investigate and examine the credentials of doctors with bachelor, master or doctorate degrees, reports Annahar daily.

The committee has been tasked to evaluate the credentials of doctors who signed a contract with the ministry in a bid to uncover false and unaccredited certificates. Legal sources from the Ministry of Health said the doctors sign contracts after the scrutiny of their certificates in their home countries.

Upon arrival of these doctors in Kuwait, all the certificates are referred to the competent committees to complete the assessment, sources disclosed. Sources pointed out the doctors’ contracts stipulate that when signing the initial contract, the ministry has the right to cancel or terminate the contract in case the certificate is found to be fraudulent.

Sources stressed the ministry is keen on signing contracts with highly qualified doctors in a bid to offer the best medical services in all hospitals. In a related development, Al-Jarida daily has quoted sources as saying that the ministry identified a number of names involved in obtaining false diplomas.

Sources affirmed the ministry has started coordinating with its higher education counterpart to determine if these persons obtained doctorate degrees while they were on their jobs. Sources also stressed that officials in the ministry confirmed there is no leniency in the health and safety of people, asserting the health of citizens and expatriates is a red line.

Sources added those proven to have committed such unscrupulous acts will be held accountable. On the other hand, Kuwait Medical Society has confirmed support for all efforts to identify manipulators and counterfeiters, calling on everyone who has evidence to present it to the responsible authorities.

Society
In a press statement, the society emphasized the need to refrain from dismissing charges as this will discredit their honest colleagues and tarnish their reputation. The society expressed support for each of the harmed doctors, while unveiling the plan to file a complaint at the Electronic Crimes Department against those who accused doctors falsely.

The daily also quoted informed educational sources as stating that the Ministry of Higher Education has contacted three cultural offices in India, Egypt and Jordan to check the authenticity of diplomas before the accreditation. Sources explained this action is in response to the request of relevant authorities in the Interior Ministry to take precautionary measures. Sources disclosed the Ministry of Higher Education intends to contact other cultural offices soon to verify certificates.

Sources said these offices will send the names of university graduates suspected of holding fake certificates and the universities that issued the diplomas to them will be contacted as well to verify the enrollment of the students. Sources added the Kuwait’s cultural offices will then provide the Ministry of Higher Education with the relevant information. Furthermore, Annahar daily has reported that an official source from the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research revealed the ministry is currently conducting secret investigations to uncover the truth on the allegation that some Egyptian universities granted false scientific certificates to Kuwaiti students in exchange for money.

The source added Egyptian Minister of Higher Education Dr Khalid Abdul Ghaffar followed up news about this matter and issued his instruction to conduct extensive investigations before releasing a statement to reveal the truth to the public. The minister pointed out that it is not possible at present to determine the accurate number of these certificates, indicating the number ranges from 150 to 200 certificates so far and this might increase after the investigation. He explained the scientific bodies involved in granting these certificates will be investigated and they shall be summoned to find out the truth, stressing that the law will be applied on them.

Moreover, Al-Qabas daily quoted knowledgeable sources as saying that the Ministry of Higher Education referred a famous media man to the Public Prosecution for forging a doctorate certificate he obtained from an Arab country.

Sources said the prosecution has yet to open an investigation into this issue as it will first listen to the opinion of the legal representative of the ministry and then order the arrest of the accused, if necessary. Sources added it is expected that the prosecution will demand imposing seven years imprisonment on those proven to have forged certificates. Sources clarified this case is not related to that of an expatriate who is in custody of the prosecution for falsification of certificates.

 

SOURCE : ARABTIMES

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