Public told to shun ‘Dr Filia’
MEDICAL authorities are in the process of asking the police to investigate a young man who failed his medical studies but is pretending to be a doctor and attending to patients.
Medical Superintendent of the National Referral Hospital (NRH) Dr Rooney Jagilly confirmed this to the Solomon Star.
Early last week, security officers manning the NRH entrance chased away the young man, who has been lying to nurses and doctors about his status and qualification.
According to sources, the young man is Chris Filia from Malaita.
“Apparently he used an authentic ID card from AMA University (in the Philippines) and told the medical staff’s that he is on practical basis,” Dr Jagilly said.
“That young man conned the nurses into believing his medical practicum for three semesters, thus they showed him around the hospital wards as a beginner,” he added.
“He also owed some of the medical staff’ money, which he is yet to repay.
“Later some medical staff informed us about Filia’s background, so we alerted everyone and confronted him at the Pharmacy Department.
“He was then chased out of the compound by the security guards,” Dr Jagilly said.
He said when he learned of Filia’s bogus claims, he emailed the AMA administration for confirmation.
Their reply revealed more about the Filia’s failure at medical school.
“AMA administration’s reply to my email stated that Chris Filia failed all his Bachelor Degree Pre-clinical units.
“They reported that the student has high record of class absenteeism so the school board decided to boot him out.
“His also overstayed his visa after it expired so the Philippines immigration department deported him back late last year.
“I’ve contacted the National Training Unit (NTU) office to know more about Filia’s scholarship status but they are yet to reply,” Dr Jagilly said.
The NRH Medical Superintendent said he will warn all Honiara City Council and rural clinic centers and provincial hospitals to be on the watch in case Filia shows up at their doors.
“I heard that he plans to go to Kilu’ufi Hospital, which I will alert them about the news and also other provincial health centers.
“This is the first of its kind to happen here and it’s unacceptable.
“We have a copy of his ID and will forward to the police for identification and investigation,” Dr Jagilly said.
Filia’s conning habit first surfaced on social media.
A Solomon Islander who is a senior lecturer at the University of Goroka in PNG, McLeen Tongaka, has reported that Filia was doing Science studies in 2014 but flopped his courses in the first year.
“I asked our Vice Chancellor under my privilege to allow him to continue his studies in the second year semester regardless of his failure.
“But again he failed his second chance in the second half of the semester.
“He also owed many students in the campus an undisclosed amount of money. He later took off to Port Moresby.”
Mr Tongaka said during Filia’s stay on campus, few times he lied to the Goroka Provincial Police into believing he was the son of Solomon Islands Deputy Prime Minister, Manasseh Maelanga.
“At times, the local police escorted him around town in their vehicles since he conned them as the DPM’s son for safety reasons.
“I tried my best as a guardian to help poor Filia stopped his conning habit but he did not take heed of my advices,” Mr Tongaka said.
He said it was a surprise for him and Solomon Islands students studying at Goroka when Filia, regardless of his failure at UOG, managed to get his name in the scholarship list for 2016 to study in the Philippines.
In the meantime, Dr Jagilly warned Honiara residents, clinics and provincial hospitals, and patients not to consult or accept any offer of treatment from Filia or any unidentified doctor.
Filia, who is believed to be in hiding, could not be located for comments.
By TEDDY KAFO
