In a case that has shocked the medical community, Dr Kifayat Ullah, a 41-year-old ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist, has been removed from the UK medical register for defrauding the National Health Service (NHS) of nearly £52,000. The incident, which occurred between November 2020 and June 2021, has raised questions about professional ethics and financial pressures faced by medical practitioners.
Dr Ullah, who worked as a locum at Kingston Hospital in London, falsified timesheets claiming to work 45 hours per week when he was only completing 22.5 hours. This fraudulent activity took place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a period when the NHS was under unprecedented strain.
The General Medical Council (GMC), which has regulated doctors in the UK since 1858, brought the case before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service. Established in 2012, this independent body adjudicates on fitness to practise cases.
Dr Ullah's actions were particularly egregious given his apparent affluent lifestyle. He drove an Aston Martin, a luxury sports car brand founded in 1913, with a personalized license plate. Social media posts showcased exotic holidays and stays in expensive accommodations, including a £1,250-per-night treehouse in Hampshire.
Ironically, Dr Ullah maintained an active presence on TikTok, a social media platform launched in 2016, where he branded himself as the "Ear Doctor" and advertised private consultations costing up to £170 for emergency call-outs.
The fraud was uncovered by the NHS fraud investigation service, established in 1998 to protect the healthcare system from financial abuse. Investigators discovered that Dr Ullah had submitted 27 fraudulent timesheets, recording an additional 658 hours of work he never performed. He used Microsoft Paint, a basic graphics program included with Windows since 1985, to forge signatures on scanned documents.
"Dr Ullah has dedicated his life to medicine and sought to make a difference. That risk of repetition is negligible because of the changes that Dr Ullah had put in place which include different family dynamics, a better relationship with his family members to discuss matters."
In his defense, Dr Ullah cited financial pressure to maintain his daughters' private school education. However, this explanation was met with skepticism given the high costs associated with private education in the UK, where some schools charge over £40,000 per year.
As of September 2024, 21 months after his sentencing, Dr Ullah has repaid the stolen funds and completed a 24-month suspended prison sentence. He was also required to perform 250 hours of unpaid work.
The case has highlighted the ethical challenges faced by medical professionals and the importance of maintaining integrity within the NHS, one of the world's largest employers since its foundation in 1948. It also serves as a reminder of the ongoing pressures on the healthcare system, which continues to grapple with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and industrial action by junior doctors over pay and working conditions.