Arrested chemist honoured by Queen; COMMUNITY SHOCKED AT CASH SWINDLE PROBE.

Byline: BY BOB HAYWOOD

A MIDLAND pharmacist honoured by the Queen has been arrested on suspicion of prescription fraud.

Dr Hooman Ghalamkari is being investigated about claims that he may have cheated the NHS out of thousands of pounds.

If charged and found guilty, he faces being jailed - a shameful end to a glittering career.

Iranian-born Dr Ghalamkari, 36, owns D.G. Pharmacy in Dines Green, Worcester, which was named Community Pharmacy of the Year in 1999.

The following year, it won a national award for pharmacy services and in 2003 the medicines category in the Pharmacy Business Awards.

For his services to pharmacy, Dr Ghalamkari was appointed an MBE by the Queen last year.

Dr Ghalamkari - who graduated at Bath University and completed postgraduate studies in Bristol - has transformed health care provision in the deprived Dines Green area of Worcester.

But now police are carrying out investigations with the crack NHS Counter Fraud Service. Customers and staff have been stunned by the arrest.

The Sunday Mercury understands that the probe centres on allegedly inflated claims made to to the Prescriptions Pricing Division of the NHS.

Pharmacists dispensing prescriptions are required to send details of the amount and cost of drugs they have handed over to customers.

Audit teams carry out frequent checks to ensure that there are no over-charging irregularities.

Cashflow

The Sunday Mercury believes the investigation involves 'a four-figure amount', although the probe is at an early stage.

Dr Ghalamkari has earlier spoken about cashflow problems he faced when he set up the business in 1997.

He told health consultancy Pharmacy Partners: "The [NHS] system meant that I was not fully reimbursed for up to three months at a time.

"In a pharmacy like mine where the script [prescription] numbers are rising, it is easy to pay out large sums of money that you won't see for three months.

"There were cashflow issues that limited me from developing the business."

Praising the help he received from Pharmacy Partners, Dr Ghalamkari said he was eventually able to refit premises next door and furnish it with new equipment to use as a consulting room.

Dr Ghalamkari, who lives in St John's, Worcester, said: "It's amazing how much you can do with the released cash.

"Now my time and cash are freed up, I am able to spend more time with customers and working at developing services."

Councillor Margaret Layland, of Worcester City Council, said: "Hooman is a very genuine, caring and hard-working man who has transformed health care in this community.

"We tried to get a chemist's here for so long and when he came it was like a gift from above.

"This investigation is very distressing but I look forward to a successful outcome."

West Mercia Police said a man had been arrested on suspicion of obtaining money by deception and had been released on bail pending further inquiries.

A spokesman for the NHS Counter Fraud Service said: "We are committed to investigating all allegations thoroughly.

"This investigation is at an early stage."

Dr Ghalamkari, who is still running the pharmacy, said: "I can confirm I was arrested but do not wish to go into detail."

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SUCCESSFUL: Dr Ghalamkari received an MBE for his services to pharmacy