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A shocking investigation by The Telegraph has exposed Dr. Asif Munaf, a doctor currently suspended from the medical register, for allegedly running an online service, Dr Sick Ltd, that dispenses medical certificates on demand for dubious reasons, including leisure travel and pet care. The revelations have ignited a firestorm of criticism and raised serious questions about the integrity of Britain's sick note system and the oversight of online health services.
Dr. Munaf, whose medical license was suspended over anti-Semitic social media posts, is reportedly issuing same-day sick notes for as little as ÂŁ29 through his company, Dr Sick Ltd. Undercover reporters from The Telegraph successfully obtained medical certificates granting extensive periods off work for highly questionable reasons, including five months for a purported Covid-19 infection, six weeks for anxiety over a sick pet, and even four weeks of remote work to facilitate a holiday abroad. All three notes were issued within hours of the requests, without any form of face-to-face or phone consultation, nor any requests for identification, GP details, or medical evidence.
The ease with which these certificates were obtained has prompted a swift response from regulatory bodies. A comprehensive dossier of evidence has been shared with both the General Medical Council (GMC), which regulates doctors, and the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England.
Deepening Concerns Over Britain's "Sick Note Culture"
This exposé comes amidst growing national concern over Britain's increasing reliance on sick notes. Last year, the UK saw a staggering 148.9 million sick days, an 11% increase over the past decade. This surge has fueled fears of a productivity crisis, leading former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to propose reforms aimed at reducing GPs' power to sign people off work.
Helen Whately, the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, condemned Dr Sick Ltd as a "rogue" operation and a "symptom of a deeper sickness in our welfare system." She criticized the Labour party for reportedly scrapping the Conservatives' planned fit note reforms, stating, "Sick notes to care for your dog or sunbathe in Malta signed off within hours, no ID, no checks, no link to the NHS. This rogue website is a symptom of a deeper sickness in our welfare system." She further asserted, "We need an end to the system where it is easier to get a sick note than a job."
Legal and Regulatory Breaches Under Investigation
Dr. Munaf's activities through Dr Sick Ltd appear to be in direct contravention of his GMC suspension. The Medical Act 1983 explicitly states that a doctor under an interim suspension "shall be treated as not being registered in the register" and that falsely pretending to be a registered medical practitioner can constitute a criminal offense. Despite this, promotional materials for Dr. Sick Ltd featured "Dr Asif Munaf" and previously advertised "online medical consultations" with him for ÂŁ150. Even after being contacted by The Telegraph, and deleting some of these pages, Dr. Munaf has continued to style himself as "Dr Asif Munaf" in promotional content for his various online health ventures, wearing scrubs and a stethoscope.
Adding to the regulatory concerns, Dr. Munaf claimed Dr Sick Ltd was "ICO-registered" and operated with "five fully GMC-registered UK doctors who issue fit notes in accordance with HIPAA-aligned guidelines." However, investigations reveal that the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's data watchdog, has no record of Dr Sick Ltd's registration. Furthermore, HIPAA is a US healthcare privacy law and does not apply in the UK.
Unregistered Clinic and Disputed Signatures
The investigation also uncovered that Dr. Munaf operates AM Wellness Ltd, an "integrative health" clinic offering a wide range of "treatment and diagnostic services," including MRI scans, IV nutrient infusions, and weight loss injections. Despite these offerings, AM Wellness Ltd is not registered with the CQC. Dr. Munaf maintains that the CQC confirmed their business model does not require registration. However, a CQC spokesman referred The Telegraph to regulations under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, which list doctor consultations, diagnostics like MRI and blood tests, and treatments using IVs and weight loss drugs as regulated activities requiring CQC registration. The CQC spokesperson advised anyone with concerns to contact them, noting that they "can and has" prosecuted unregistered providers.
Further compounding the issues, the sick notes issued by Dr Sick Ltd bore the name, GMC number, and apparent signature of a GMC-registered doctor employed by a locum agency used by NHS trusts. When contacted, the agency stated their employee denied working for Dr Sick Ltd or signing the documents. Dr. Munaf, while claiming he does not "issue the medical notes" himself but "runs the business," did not respond to this specific discrepancy.
A History of Controversy
This is not Dr. Munaf's first brush with controversy. The 37-year-old entrepreneur, known for appearances on reality TV shows like Dragon’s Den and The Apprentice, was dropped from The Apprentice: You’re Fired in February 2024 following a GMC interim suspension imposed that same month. This suspension stemmed from anti-Semitic social media posts, including claims of Holocaust denial and "9/11 was a Jewish job," which he continued to share even after initial restrictions were put in place in August 2024. The GMC again imposed an interim suspension in November 2024 pending further investigation due to his continued sharing of anti-Semitic content.
While Trustpilot reviews for Dr Sick Ltd are mixed, with some praising fast service and employer acceptance, others expressed concerns about the unprofessional appearance of the certificates and the potential for abuse. The unfolding situation highlights significant gaps in the regulation of online health services and underscores the urgent need for a more robust system to prevent the misuse of medical certifications.
