Thousands of patients of a Wollongong doctor are requested to go ahead and get them tested for HIV and hepatitis, after his practice was found to be insanitary.

Health authorities are in the course of contacting Dr. Zakaria Lakhany's previous patients, who could be running a risk of contracting a blood-borne disease after having an endoscopy or colonoscopy at his surgery in Warrawong, south of Wollongong in New South Wales.

NSW Health yesterday threw light upon the risk to the doctor's patients, stating that the risk was low; however, it was not going to take any chances.

It follows an inquiry into his practice on May 6 after a great number of patients needed emergency.

Public Health Officers were able to find that Dr. Lakhany's tools were not sterilized up to standards and a batch of anesthetic might have been tainted, which caused patients to fall sick.

A health alert stated that although the risk is very minute, yet, there could be no chance taken since it is the question of health of all people.

Dr. Lakhany has stopped practicing. The Medical Board and Health Care Complaints Commission, has been informed about the issue.