Doctor on trial accused of defrauding HSE on 'trust basis'

A fraud trial is underway at Carlow Circuit Court, where a doctor stands accused of defrauding the Health Service Executive (HSE). Dr. Muhammad Waqas Rabbani, from Tullow Family Medical Centre, faces 20 counts of fraud related to alleged offenses committed between September 3 and 29, 2018. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

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The Health Service Executive pays general practitioners completely on a trust basis.

The prosecution alleges that Dr. Rabbani dishonestly induced the HSE, via the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS), to pay him for services he claimed to have provided to medical card patients but did not actually perform. Dr. Joyce Cooney, former principal medical officer at PCRS, testified that individuals with medical cards are entitled to free GP services, with the PCRS reimbursing doctors through monthly payments and subsidies.

Dr. Cooney explained that while doctors contractually agree to submit truthful claims, the HSE operates on a "trust basis" for these payments. Doctors can also claim additional payments for specialized treatments or urgent consultations outside normal hours. An investigation into Dr. Rabbani's claims began in October 2018 after the PCRS probity division raised a query.

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Dr Muhammad Waqas Rabbani, of Tullow Family Medical Centre, The Square in Tullow, pleaded not guilty to 20 counts of fraud that related to offences allegedly committed on different dates between 3 and 29 September 2018.

During the investigation, Dr. Rabbani reportedly denied making invalid claims, citing his busy practice which saw up to 75 patients daily. Following the PCRS investigation, the Medical Council and An Garda Síochána were notified. A search of Dr. Rabbani's practice was conducted in February 2022.

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The doctors undertake to only submit truthful claims in their contract with the HSE, but that payments are made completely on a trust basis.

Over the past week, 45 patients who were registered with Dr. Rabbani in October 2018 have given evidence. Some stated they did not receive the specialized treatments claimed by the doctor, while others claimed their signatures on the forms were not theirs. Several patients also noted long waiting times for appointments, sometimes weeks.

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Dr Rabbani said he had a busy practice, with 14,000 patients, and that he saw up to 75 patients a day.