Deregistered Sydney pharmacist peddling faith based healing during ban

Nine News 9, Australia/May 16, 2017

By A Current Affair

A disgraced Sydney pharmacist whose registration was cancelled for 12 months after he sold counterfeit drugs to a Sydney's children's hospital is using his time away from pharmacy to pursue the controversial practice of faith healing.

Mina Attia paid for counterfeit Viagra from an unlicensed supplier in 2010 and on-sold them to the Sydney Children's Hospital, where they are used to treat hypertension.

A pharmacist at Sydney Children's Hospital, in the city's east, noticed the tablets were grittier than normal while crushing them down and phoned drug manufacturer, Pfizer, who confirmed the pills were counterfeit.

The sale sparked a voluntary recall of 5,000 units of Viagra.

The Health Care Complaints Commission was told Attia purchased the fake Viagra from a man in an unmarked van.

He admitted that he failed to contact Pfizer to ensure the product was genuine and had provided misleading information to the Therapeutic Goods Association throughout the course of its investigation.

His registration as a pharmacist and wholesaler was cancelled for at least a year in December, prompting the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia to update its code of ethics.

"It's critical that pharmacists abide by the Code of Ethics, as it does underpin their professional practice," PSA national vice president Michelle Lych told A Current Affair.

"It also sets the standard for how the public should expect their pharmacist to engage with them as well."

During his time away from pharmacy, Attia has turned from making money dealing in science-based medicine to pursuing the controversial practice of faith healing.

Attia and his wife, Yvon, run a ministry called Celebrate Freedom.

The couple also star in a life television healing program broadcast to millions of people across the Middle East.

"The Holy Spirit is right there, lift up your hands and it is touching you right now," Attia can be seen saying in a Celebrate Freedom video.

"You can have your healing here today and you can have the touch of Heaven."

Followers can be seen singing the praises of Celebrate Freedom in video testimonials shared by the faith healing ministry.

"She gave me the blessing and it really works, and it took all my pain away," one girl said.

"I prayed for a year about this foot and then just a few minutes ago... I was praying and I've just run four laps of the local park."

Professor Brad Frankum, NSW president of the Australian Medical Association, is worried about Attia's latest venture.

"It basically feeds on vulnerable people who are looking for a miracle cure, often to very severe illnesses. It offers them false hope."

Attia appealed his deregistration.

A judge is currently writing their judgement on the appeal.

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