Original article: Ñuble: Formalizan a otros 3 médicos extranjeros que se autoemitieron licencias falsas y dejaron sin atención a comuna de Pemuco

Ñuble: Three Foreign Doctors Charged for Issuing Fake Medical Licenses, Leaving Pemuco Without Care

The acting prosecutor of Chillán, Valentina Hormazábal González, has officially charged three foreign surgeons hired by the Municipality of Pemuco with crimes related to the issuance of fraudulent medical licenses.

These medical professionals join five others who were charged in September for similar offenses, with another individual still pending formalization and currently subject to an arrest order.

The investigation commenced in May after reports surfaced that seven doctors working at the Family Health Center (Cesfam) and rural clinics in Pemuco, along with three public service physicians from the Ñuble, O’Higgins, and Metropolitan regions, had submitted sick leave permits issued among themselves, which resulted in a lack of healthcare services in the Pemuco area.

This situation arose after the Pemuco Municipal Council abolished a special temporary allowance, leading to a decrease in remuneration for the hired health workers.

«The doctors formally charged from Pemuco include Norelys Portal Farías and Héctor Plaza Moreira, both facing charges for obtaining fake medical licenses and subsidy fraud. They are subject to precautionary measures including night-time house arrest, a ban on leaving the country, and a prohibition on issuing medical licenses for 60 days,» reported the Ñuble Regional Prosecutor’s Office.

Additionally, Anny Tomas Ulacio was formalized for the same offenses, plus the charge of practicing without passing the National Medical Knowledge Exam (Eunacom). Her precautionary measures will be discussed in a hearing scheduled for January 5th, according to the prosecution.

We will continue to provide updates.