Parirenyatwa Hospital uncovers 44 fake doctors defrauding patients
HARARE — In the past 16 months, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals has uncovered at least 44 individuals posing as doctors, attempting to defraud unsuspecting patients, the hospital confirmed on Tuesday.
While the duration of their fraudulent activities remains unclear, the hospital emphasized its ongoing efforts to protect the public from such malicious schemes.
“In 2023 alone, our Security Department apprehended 33 offenders,” the hospital’s spokesperson Linos Dhire stated.
“From January 2024 to date, 11 similar cases have been addressed by the department. These individuals, masquerading as doctors, tutors, or thieves targeting both staff and patients, have been handed over to the police.”
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, housing nearly 400 doctors and a total staff of approximately 4,000, acknowledged the challenges posed by its size and complexity, which opportunistic individuals exploit for nefarious purposes.
However, the hospital reassured the public that it’s surveillance teams remain vigilant, consistently thwarting attempts to compromise the institution’s integrity.
“It is important to note that recent investigations revealed that the three fake doctors apprehended did not attend to any patients,” the hospital said.
“Our Surveillance Teams remain dedicated to identifying and apprehending individuals seeking to abuse public trust within our institution.”
Many parts of Zimbabwe’s various sectors have been overrun by opportunists, a phenomenon exacerbated by pervasive poverty, soaring unemployment rates, and, at times, collusion between staff and outsiders.
The challenging economic landscape, coupled with inadequate surveillance measures and the reality that full employment often fails to provide adequate remuneration, has created fertile ground for exploitation.
In this environment, individuals seeking to capitalize on vulnerabilities within institutions, such as Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, have found opportunities to infiltrate and perpetrate fraudulent activities.
As the country grapples with socio-economic challenges, including inflation and currency instability, the allure of illicit gains has become increasingly tempting for those struggling to make ends meet.
