Majority of Medical Misconduct Cases in UK Among Foreign-Trained Doctors

By the Editorial Team · Monday, August 31, 2026

Foreign-trained doctors comprised 55.6 percent of disciplinary cases in the UK last year, despite making up 42 percent of the medical workforce, with 118 out of 212 sanctioned practitioners trained abroad. This disproportionate representation raises concerns about regulatory oversight and patient safety, prompting renewed commitments to rigorous vetting of all medical professionals.

Foreign-trained doctors accounted for the majority of medical misconduct cases in the United Kingdom over the past year, despite representing less than half of the country’s medical workforce. According to data from the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), 55.6 percent of doctors found guilty of professional misconduct were trained outside the UK, while these practitioners make up 42 percent of the overall medical staff.

Out of 212 doctors sanctioned for various forms of misconduct — including fraud, incompetence, sexual misconduct, and failure to disclose prior criminal convictions — 118 received their medical qualifications abroad. Among these, 28 doctors were permanently struck off the medical register, and another 69 had their licenses suspended.

The most common countries of medical training among those disciplined were India, with 23 cases, and Egypt, with 17.

One notable example involves Dr. Mohsen Ali, who was trained in Egypt and was struck off in April after being found guilty of defrauding patients by charging thousands of pounds for unproven cancer treatments, such as ozone therapy, vitamin C, and garlic oil remedies, which he administered privately from his residence in Leicester.

Another case linked to Egypt-trained physicians involved Dr. Baraa Almasri, who was struck off in March for his complicity in illegal activities carried out by his flatmate, Marius Gustavson. Gustavson, known as the ‘eunuch maker,’ was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2024 for performing abusive and unlawful body mutilations at their shared London apartment. The tribunal found that Dr. Almasri appeared to support Gustavson’s actions and failed to report them to authorities.

The findings highlight ongoing concerns about regulatory oversight and patient safety relating to the conduct of some doctors trained overseas, although the medical community emphasizes the vital role played by foreign-trained professionals within the UK’s National Health Service. Authorities have reiterated commitments to maintaining high standards in clinical practice and thorough vetting processes for all medical practitioners regardless of their country of qualification.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.