Pharmacist Dr Hooman Ghalamkari MBE was sentenced to a nine month jail sentence on March 25 at Worcester Crown Court, after an investigation by the NHS Counter Fraud Service (CFS).
The investigation uncovered theft of prescription charges belonging to the NHS and the falsifying of documents used for accounting purposes.
Ghalamkari was charged with one count of theft and one of false accounting. The financial gain was approximately £21,000, obtained from February 2005 to December 2006. The prison sentence was for the charge of false accounting. No sentence was passed on the charge of theft. No costs or compensation order were awarded.
The judge said Ghalamkari held "a position of trust and the public expects you to be trustworthy and honest". He noted Ghalamkari "made a conscious decision to maintain his profit margins. He also made a conscious choice every month to sign off his FP34C form to say it was accurate when it was not…It was his conscious choice."
The judge added: "Overall your behaviour was dishonest…..It gives me no pleasure to pass sentence but the offending does pass the custody threshold." He noted the great personal and professional damage suffered as a result of the fraud: “When this issue was made public it turned him into something of a leper. He lost all self respect and face. His engagement fell through. The sentence takes into account that his professional body will strike him off."
His defence barrister indicated Ghalamkari would be happy to repay any outstanding sums.
NHS CFS Managing Director Dermid McCausland said after the case: “We are pleased the sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences. This case reminds people that fraud can sometimes be committed where we might least expect it. Dr Ghalamkari was regarded highly in the pharmaceutical community; it is disappointing that he should waste his talents by turning to crime. This case sends out a strong message that wherever NHS fraud occurs it will be vigorously pursued. The NHS Counter Fraud Service will robustly investigate any suspicions of fraud and where appropriate seek legal redress."
On February 4, 2009, at Worcester Magistrates’ Court, Ghalamkari entered guilty pleas for offences committed against the NHS. Dr Ghalamkari was dispensing the lower priced Simvastatin instead of the more expensive Simvador. He was then claiming payment from the Trust for the more expensive Simvador and pocketing the difference. He also withheld NHS prescription charges. Patients paid the correct charge (around £6.50 at the time), then without their knowledge had their prescription forms altered to indicate they were exempt from the charges. Meanwhile, Ghalamkari was keeping the cash that rightfully belonged to the NHS.
Since his arrest and the search of his home and businesses, Dr Ghalamkari has sold his two Worcester pharmacies – the award-winning DG Pharmacy in Dines Green and Halt Pharmacy in St John’s. He has also repaid £27,000 to the NHS.
