An Auckland pharmacist has been censured by the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal after redirecting almost $50,000 in community health funding into his personal bank account, though he has avoided a professional suspension.
According to a report by Stuff, Murad Al Gailani faced a professional misconduct charge following a criminal conviction for obtaining by deception. The case related to 16 payments from Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora) that were intended for Unichem Silverdale Clinic Pharmacy, where he was employed as the sole charge pharmacist.
The tribunal heard that Al Gailani supplied his personal bank account details on a Primary Options for Acute Care (POAC) registration form in August 2022. As a result, payments totalling $49,343.42 were deposited into his account between August 2022 and July 2023 instead of being paid to his employer, Totem Pharmacy Group, Stuff has reported..
Al Gailani moved to Australia in March 2023, but a further seven payments were still deposited into his account after his departure. The discrepancy was eventually uncovered when Totem Pharmacy Group questioned why it had not received reimbursement for acute care services provided by the clinic.
When challenged about the payments, Al Gailani admitted receiving the funds but claimed he was unaware the money was not intended for him. He maintained that he had not spent any of the funds and repaid the full amount promptly. However, the tribunal dismissed that explanation,as reported by Stuff.
“It is indisputable, that Dr Al Gailani has behaved dishonestly by receiving monies to which he was not entitled and as such he has failed to meet the standards of honesty and integrity expected by the Pharmacy Council,” the tribunal decision stated.
A police investigation followed, and on February 5, 2025, Al Gailani pleaded guilty to a representative charge of obtaining by deception. He was sentenced to six months of community detention and supervision, which he completed on August 5, 2025.
The tribunal said it had initially considered imposing a four-month suspension from practice. However, it ultimately decided against suspension, noting that Al Gailani had already spent six months unable to continue his pharmacy career while remaining in New Zealand to complete his sentence, as reported by Stuff.
Now working as a registered pharmacist in Australia, Al Gailani remains subject to conditions should he seek to practise in New Zealand again. For the next three years, he must disclose both his criminal conviction and the tribunal’s findings to any prospective employer when applying to renew his registration, Stuff has reported.
In addition to the censure, Al Gailani has been ordered to pay 40 per cent of the tribunal’s costs, amounting to $17,044.24, as reported by Stuff.