Story By: Maja Mishevksa, Sub Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash

A Spanish doctor is under investigation after he was allegedly caught stealing 300 face masks from the hospital where he works to protect against the coronavirus.

The unnamed Spanish doctor was reportedly caught taking 14 boxes containing a total of 300 high-filtration face masks from the warehouse of the Clinic University Hospital of Malaga in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia, where he works in the traumatology department.

He reportedly said he was taking the masks to his village to protect the residents from the coronavirus now officially called COVID-19 by the World Health Organization.

According to official sources, an internal investigation has been started after finding “alleged inappropriate use of specialised material” by the doctor.

The head of the hospital has given the case to the judicial services of the hospital.

The hospital’s management has filed an informative report against the doctor which could turn into a sanction report once the investigation is over.

The final decision will be taken by the Servicio Andaluz de Salud (Andalusian Health Service), but are yet to comment on the case.

The managers of the hospital sent an internal statement to the worker reminding them that “the use of sanitary material is exclusive and it is limited to the hospital”.

Sources from the official college of Pharmacists of Malaga explained that in most of the pharmacies in the province there is a shortage of face masks and disinfectant gel, as is happening throughout Spain due to the increase in demand.

So far 12 cases of coronavirus have been reported in Spain.

The ViralTab page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.