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This week the authorities closed two doctor’s practices, one in Boltigen BE and one in Dällikon ZH. According to research by SRF Investigativ, the doctor Mohammed Al Saad does not have any specialist qualifications. A criminal complaint was filed.
This week, the Federal Office of Public Health surprisingly revoked the license to practice medicine from Saudi Arabian physician Mohammed Al Saad. He is no longer allowed to work independently as a doctor. His practices in Boltigen, Bern, and the Zurich Unterland, which opened at the beginning of November, have already been closed again by the health authorities.
Criminal complaint filed
According to research by SRF Investigativ, the doctor is said to have adorned himself with false feathers towards authorities and patients. A document from Germany identifies him as a “specialist in internal medicine and cardiology”. But the so-called “certificate” from the North Württemberg District Medical Association is probably a forgery.
On February 16, 2021, no specialist examination in the field of internal medicine and cardiology took place, writes the press office of the Baden-Württemberg State Medical Association and: “Mr Al Saad did not complete any specialist examination in North Württemberg.” The state medical association has already filed a criminal complaint.
Mr Al Saad has not completed a specialist examination in North Württemberg.
This is all particularly bitter for Boltigen in the Simmental. The Bern municipality granted Mohammed Al Saad an interest-free loan of 700,000 francs to purchase and renovate the practice. The new doctor was even welcomed in Boltigen with a large banner: “He has the doctorate, and we have it.”
Legend:
Mohammed Al Saad only worked as a village doctor in Boltigen for three days.
20min/Lucas Orellano
Mayor Anna Bieri learned today from SRF that the new family doctor’s advanced training qualifications could be forged: “For me, this is a scandal because all documents have been checked by the authorities.” For data protection reasons, the municipality of Boltigen was not informed of the reason why Mohammed Al Saad’s license to practice his profession was withdrawn.
This is a scandal for me
The Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) controls the diplomas and further training titles of foreign doctors. The BAG may have missed the alleged falsification of Al Saad’s title in cardiology and internal medicine. It added him to the register of medical personnel in April 2021. Based on this recognition, the health authorities of the cantons of Bern and Zurich granted him professional licenses.
The BAG writes that in view of the large number of applications from foreign doctors, they are checking if there are any suspicions. Two and a half years after his admission, the authorities began to doubt the authenticity of his specialist medical qualifications. Mohammed al Saad has not been available for comment for days. It is the presumption of innocence.