Victoria's health care watchdog has warned people against consulting a man who allegedly convinced people alternative Indian medicine alone could cure serious medical conditions.
The Health Complaints Commissioner began investigating Roshan Gamage in December 2023 and recently hit him with a temporary order banning him from offering health services.
Mr Gamage - also known as Kalahe Gamage Harsha Gamage - allegedly told clients he was a qualified Ayurvedic medical practitioner in Australia and persuaded them against seeking out registered medical practitioners and taking prescription medication.
He also took large loan payments from clients after diagnosing them with serious medical conditions and claimed he could cure them, the commissioner alleged.
Commissioner Bernice Redley on Friday issued a public warning urging people to avoid Mr Gamage.
She said the warning was necessary to avoid "an imminent and serious risk to the life, health, safety or welfare of the public".
Professor Redley began investigating Mr Gamage because of a complaint.
"This should serve as a timely reminder to all general health service providers who do not observe the code of conduct that my office will investigate those providers who pose a serious risk to the public and take action against them," she said in a statement.
The commissioner urged Victorians with concerns about health service providers to contact her office.
Ayurveda is an alternative medicine system from India.
