London:An NRI doctor, who is one of the highest paid general practitioners (GPs) in Britain, has been banned from practising amid suspicions that he has been fraudulently claiming money for patient treatments

Dr Satya Gupta, who earned 270,000 pounds annually, is being investigated by the National Health Services anti-corruption unit and has been suspended for up to 18 months by the General Medical Council, reports said on Saturday.

Gupta raised suspicion after making huge profits from a practice in one of Britains poorest inner city areas -- Hackney in north-east London, the Daily Mail reported

His earnings were linked to a scheme that pays family doctors for accruing points for hitting targets, such as measuring blood pressure, giving vaccinations and carrying out cholesterol checks.

But his points total for 2006-07 has been slashed from 884.62 out of a possible 1,000,to 798.62 following an audit, giving him the second lowest score for a practice in his area.

Ways of over-inflating scores could include claiming that patients have had checks or treatments when they havent.

This discrepancy is being investigated by the NHS Business Service Authoritys counter-fraud team, which in recent years has prosecuted more than 400 doctors, dentists and other health workers for financial irregularities

However, Gupta has denied the charge claiming that he has two other doctors and two locums whom he had to pay and his take-home was only 130,000 pounds per annum.

He has previously admitted his surgery took 270,000 pounds a year from the NHS -- but insisted his takehome pay was 130,000 pounds after staff costs.

"I have two other doctors and two locums who I pay out of that amount," he said at the time.

"Mine alone is about 130,000 pounds... I have 9,000 patients on my books. There needs to be at least three doctors for that number."

Gupta, who is in his 60s and lives in Barnet, north London, retired from the Oldhill Medical Centre in Stamford Hill in August last year.

The investigation comes amid growing anger about GPs pay in the country, the daily said.

Source : DNA