A doctor whose identity was allegedly assumed by a man who worked in Sydney for more than a decade without any qualifications is said to be “in shock”.

Shyam Acharya allegedly used Dr Saran Chitale’s name and medical qualifications to become registered in NSW.

He worked at Manly, Hornsby, Wyong and Gosford hospitals from 2003 to 2014 after assuming the identity.

Mr Acharya allegedly stole documents while living in India and used them to register with the Medical Board of NSW.

The real Dr Chitale currently works in the UK and his family told the Daily Telegraph the situation was “distressing and shocking”.

A passport photo has been released of fake doctor Shyam Acharya. (Supplied)

“It is quite distressing and shocking,” Dr Chitale’s wife said.

“There is nothing we can do, all we can do is carry on.”

Dr Chitale did not answer any questions about the incident, with his wife saying he has been advised against talking to anybody about it while there is an ongoing investigation.

The newspaper reports Dr Chitale works at a number of medical clinics north of Manchester and is held in high regard by the British medical community.

Mr Acharya has been charged by Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and faces being fined up to $30,000.

His whereabouts is not currently known although a search to locate him is underway.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said it was "disturbing" Mr Acharya got through border protection with a false passport after assuming the identity of a doctor in India.

He will raise the issue at this month's COAG Health Minister's meeting to ensure checks and balances are in place at a national level so the ruse can't be repeated.

"The Ministry of Health has advised me there have been substantial changes since 2003 in the checks that are made, but I want health to revisit the issue and make absolutely certain that the new federal registration process operating since 2011 is as scrupulous as can be," Mr Hazzard said in statement.

"I have also directed the Ministry of Health to look at every aspect of registration to make sure that NSW Health has done whatever it can to look beyond fake passports with particular reference to going back to primary documents from country of origin."

AMA NSW president, Professor Brad Frankum said it was "a worry (Acharya) was able to fool the system for so long".

"It was a long time ago that the person faked their way in ... and the system is more robust now than it was."

Professor Frankum said the accreditation process from medical colleges today was very rigorous for doctors from overseas.

"There is a requirement now for a verbal referee check from somebody who has worked with the individual overseas which wasn't in place back in 2003," he said.

NSW Health would not say whether Mr Acharya had any medical experience before working in Australia, but his status as a junior doctor with limited registration meant he was subject to supervision.

Mr Acharya was involved in one critical incident where there were concerns about a patient's treatment, but only as one of several people on the clinical team.

NSW Health received no further complaints about the doctor.

Australia's Health Practitioner Regulation Agency advised NSW Health it was investigating Mr Acharya in 2016 - more than two years after he left the state's public health system.

He has since been charged with a breach of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.

AHPRA's case against Mr Acharya was mentioned in the Downing Centre Local Court on Monday.