A Nova Scotia doctor has had his licence to practise medicine revoked for under-reporting his qualifications.

Dr. Mohsen Yavari opened his Glace Bay practice in 2013 under a program that helped place internationally trained doctors in family-practice positions in under-serviced areas of Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia's College of Physicians and Surgeons says Yavari failed to report to them that he had worked as an emergency-medicine specialist for six years in Dubai.

The college says Yavari would not have qualified for the family-practice position had he been honest about his qualifications.

Yavari, who was born in Iran, said when he received his Nova Scotia licence that working as a doctor in Canada was the fulfilment of a "life-long dream."

Dishonesty discovered, patients suffer

Yavari was suspended in February of this year, while the college investigated.

In a written decision released this week, the college said the investigation committee "strongly believes Dr. Yavari's dishonesty resulted in his placement in the community, instead of another appropriately qualified candidate."

The decision goes on to say that the community has been left struggling to find medical care after that dishonesty was discovered.

However, in Yavari's favour, the decision also notes that his personal circumstances were very difficult, motivating him to misrepresent his circumstances, and that his colleagues and community support his return to practice.

The college says Yavari can reapply for a licence as a family practitioner after a minimum four months suspension.

Last fall, in a similar case, the college revoked the licence of a doctor in Parrsboro, N.S.

Dr. Jalal Baghaee failed to report that he was a trained pediatrician.