Doctor accused of giving anti-vaxxers fake Covid vaccines and exemptions heckles officers as his surgery is raided and crates of patient files taken
- VIC health officials have raided a GP amid a probe into fake vaccine exemptions
- Dr Mark Hobart is being investigated over allegations of falsified Covid records
- Documents were seized from North Sunshine Surgery on Wednesday afternoon
A doctor accused of faking Covid vaccine records for anti-vaxxers has been raided by health authorities and his medical documents seized.
Mark Hobart’s North Sunshine Surgery, in Melbourne’s west, was stormed by Victorian Health Department officials on Wednesday afternoon.
They were investigating claims he falsified Covid records by either handing out fraudulent exemptions or fake vaccine certificates.
Videos posted online by the GP’s supporters showed officials talking to Dr Hobart as they scoured his office.
‘We’ve got authorised officers inside, they’re giving Dr Hobart a hard time, ‘ Jonas said in a Facebook livestream.
Dr Mark Hobart (pictured) is under investigation by the Victorian Department of Health over allegations he distributed fake Covid vaccine exemptions
‘[He is] an asset to our community, a family doctor of three decades. This is just absolutely disgraceful what is happening in our country.’
Mr Jonas heckled officials as they carried out their duties, calling out ‘are you proud of yourselves?’ as he followed them around the surgery.
Once the officials left, Dr Hobart complained about the ‘intimidating’ raid.
‘I’ve just been invaded by seven authorised officers and they have seized my confidential patient files, appointment book, and various other documents,’ he said.
‘They say they are going to give me an itemised list of what they have taken. It was quite an intimidating experience.’
The Health Department said they were collected to pass on to the federal medical watchdog, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
‘Victorian Authorised Officers attended a medical clinic in North Sunshine yesterday to carry out investigations under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008,’ it told Daily Mail Australia.
A video posted online shows officials seizing medical documents from North Sunshine Surgery on Wednesday
‘Evidence gathered from those investigations will be passed on to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and Victoria Police.’
Daily Mail Australia made several calls to the clinic on Thursday, which all rang out to a voice message saying the surgery would be closed for several days.
Photos posted online show a sign erected on the front door, reading: ‘The Victorian Government has banned patients from entering this surgery because Dr Hobart refused to surrender your private and confidential patient files’.
Daily Mail Australia also contacted North Sunshine surgery by email but is yet to receive a response.
The investigation is one of several which have been launched by the Health Department amid reports a small number of GPs issuing false vaccination certificates.
There is strict criteria for Covid vaccine exemptions, which doctors are expected to ensure are met before issuing them for patients.
Vaccine exemptions can only be issued on specific medical grounds, including a severe reaction to a Covid-19 vaccine or a severe acute medical illness that allows for a temporary delay in vaccination.
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