Woman arrested for impersonating doctor at Amarah hospital

MAYSAN — Police in Maysan have arrested a woman accused of posing as a doctor at Al-Hakim Teaching Hospital in Amarah, in the latest incident involving medical impersonation in Iraq.

According to a statement from the Maysan Police Directorate, officers from the Facilities Protection Directorate became suspicious after observing the woman in a white coat acting as hospital staff. “She was detained and referred to hospital administrators, who confirmed she had no connection to the institution,” said Maj. Gen. Latha Fakhir Al-Muhammadawi, Maysan’s police chief. The suspect has been referred to judicial authorities.

The case highlights a broader issue confronting Iraq’s strained healthcare sector: a growing number of individuals posing as medical professionals.

On May 5, 2025, authorities shut down an unlicensed cosmetic clinic in Najaf’s Al-Adala neighborhood and arrested two individuals, including a man claiming to be a cosmetic specialist. Months earlier, the Najaf Medical Syndicate closed a clinic in the al-Jamia district operated by a woman impersonating a doctor. Officials confiscated banned drugs and unauthorized medical tools during that operation.

In response, Iraq’s Parliamentary Health and Environment Committee and the Ministry of Health launched a joint task force in August 2024 to target unlicensed medical practices and protect patient safety. The campaign reflects growing concerns over fraud and patient exploitation in an already overburdened public health system.

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