Ruling party member facing phony Dr charges

A FORMER ruling party (Panamenista) candidate for deputy who became The Healrh Ministry( MoH) promotion director is heading for trial for the alleged illegal practice of medicine.

The prosecutor’s decision comes after  he found witnesse showing that Victor Barrios Córdoba  practiced medicine without a license.

Cordoba resigned in January after the Public Health Technical Council undertook an investigation into his records as a “ pediatrician.””.

The former Panameñista candidate did not have titles accrediting him as a doctor.

In the previous administration, he was alternate deputy to  Luis Eduardo Quirós Panameñista for the  8-8 circuit.

The MoH filed a complaint in February  with the Public Ministry to investigate if Cordoba was qualified.

After that, the Assistant Prosecutor launched an investigation and requested the lifting of criminal court immunity which Cordoba enjoyed.

Several weeks later, Cordoba acknowledged that he had no title. “I do not possess a doctorate degree in medicine, but an incomplete career. I had no clinic, I have no patient in either the public or private  sector , I have not received any compensation for medical care. “

He said, that during his time posing as a doctor was limited to giving advice on health through the media.

“What I have done is to advise and guide patients to go to their family doctor or a specialist,” he added.

On March 30, the prosecution called him in for questioning, and , he was given a precautionary measure of country jail.

On May 7, assistant prosecutor Marcelino Aguilar said he managed to obtain three testimonials “certifying” that the politico practiced medicine without a college degree