Police arrest fake doctor in Baghdad amid crackdown on illegal clinics

BAGHDAD — Iraqi security forces arrested a man who was posing as a medical doctor and operating an illegal clinic in Baghdad, police said.

Baghdad Rusafa police said in a statement that a joint security force shut down an unlicensed medical clinic after receiving “precise information” that an individual was practicing medicine without official approval.

The statement said the operation was carried out after intelligence indicated that the suspect had opened a clinic and was receiving patients “during evening hours until 3 a.m.” without obtaining any official permits.

Police said they raided the clinic and arrested the suspect “in the act” while he was treating a patient inside the facility.

According to the statement, the suspect admitted during questioning that he was working under what he described as “humanitarian motives,” despite lacking approval from the Health Ministry and not holding a license to practice medicine. Police also said he did not possess a valid passport.

The statement added that security forces seized quantities of various medicines that were being sold to patients without medical prescriptions, as well as medical tools used in procedures. The suspect was placed in detention and legal measures were taken against him.

The case adds to a series of incidents involving unlicensed medical practice in Iraq. Earlier this month, Baghdad police arrested a Syrian national in the Husseiniyat al-Maamel area on charges of impersonating a dentist and operating an unlicensed dental clinic, police said.

In January, Baghdad Rusafa Police Command arrested a woman accused of impersonating a gynecologist and practicing medicine for six years using forged documents.

In July 2025, police in Maysan arrested a woman accused of posing as a doctor at Al-Hakim Teaching Hospital in Amarah after hospital officials confirmed “she had no connection to the institution,” according to police.