GPHC determination — substantive hearing
Suspended from practice — 1 year
The regulator’s term: suspension
What does “suspended from practice” mean?
A suspension is a fixed-term pause on the right to practise. The practitioner cannot work in the regulated profession during the suspension. At the end of the period the suspension may be extended, replaced with another sanction, or lifted on review.
Concerning Sunil Kumar Lakhani, pharmacist (GPHC 2038518).
Decision date: 7 November 2024 · Hearing started 5 November 2024 and ended 7 November 2024
This sanction period has elapsed.
In plain English
The GPhC committee decided that Sunil Kumar Lakhani should be subject to the published outcome from a principal hearing in a misconduct case. The committee imposed a suspension for 12 months. It records fitness to practise as impaired. The official determination gives the committee's reasons, order wording, and any conditions attached to the decision.
Charges
The GPhC allegation section states: (as amended 2 September 2024) You, a registered pharmacist and superintendent pharmacist working at Sai Pharmacy, 150 - 152 High Street, North London, E6 2HT [“the Pharmacy”] 1. On 22 February 2022, placed a used swab taken for a Covid-19 test back into its packaging; PROVED 2. On unknown dates between 11 February 2022 and 22 February 2022: 2.1. used Lateral Flow Tests (“LFTs”) for Covid-19 ‘Fit to Fly’ tests in place of Polymerase Chain Reaction (“PCR”) tests NOT PROVED 2.2. did not keep a record of Covid-19 tests completed at the pharmacy PROVED 2.3. did not keep records of courier services used for Covid-19 tests PROVED 2.4. Issued Fit to Fly certificates to patients certifying Circular 1 Health testing service had found their rapid antigen test negative for Covid-19 PROVED 2.5. accepted only cash for Covid-19 tests payments PROVED 2.6. recorded the cash received for Covid-19 tests as no sale PROVED 3. Your conduct at 2.1 to 2.6 above was dishonest in that you: 3.1. knew that a PCR test was required for Fit to Fly tests NOT PROVED 3.2. Did not send Circular 1 Health Limited any Covid-19 samples for testing from the 3 Pharmacy NOT PROVED 3.3. knew that Covid-19 tests conducted at the Pharmacy were not/ would not be tested by Circular 1 Health PROVED 3.4. knew that the Fit to Fly certificates provided to patients were not legitimate. PROVED 4. In relation to Covid-19 PCR tests, on 22 February 2022 you: 4.1 used a swab kit from Fit2Fly 24/7 Limited at the Pharmacy. PROVED 4.2 informed a GPhC Inspector that the Pharmacy used “24/7” services to process tests. PROVED 5. Your conduct in at 4.1 and 4.2 above was dishonest as the pharmacy had not used the Covid19 testing services offered by Fit2Fly24/7 Limited since 15 December 2021 NOT PROVED 6. On 24 February 2022 you...
Findings
The GPhC Fitness to Practise Committee held a principal hearing for Sunil Kumar Lakhani in a misconduct case. The cover page records facts proved: 1, 2.2,2.3,2.4,2.5,2.6,3.3,3.4,4.1,4.2, 6.1,6.2,7 and 9 Facts not proved: 2.1,3.1,3.2,5, and 8 2. It records fitness to practise as impaired. The committee imposed a suspension for 12 months.
Source
All facts on this page are drawn from the publicly published GPHC determination linked below. MedicWatch does not editorialise the regulator’s findings.
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