Doctor who prescribed Ivermectin in danger of suspended license

A Regina doctor who was reprimanded last year for prescribing Ivermectin for COVID-19 is now in danger of his license to practice being suspended.

According to a unanimous decision of the competency hearing committee that met Dec. 16 last year, Dr. Tshipita Kabongo’s practice doesn’t meet the current standard of care expected of a family doctor. The committee meets under the auspices of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan, which regulates medicine in the province.

The committee decision said he failed three out of five “objective components” and there wasn’t much to assuage concerns that had been raised. There was also concern about potentially unsafe care because of unclear clinical decision-making.

“While Dr. Kabongo does appear to be relatively knowledgeable with background medical knowledge, there was frequently poor translation of this knowledge into practice – and absolutely critical skill necessary for any physician,” read the committee report.

It concluded Kabongo doesn’t have enough skill and knowledge in medicine.

To remedy that, this month Kabongo was ordered to go through re-training, to be finished by Dec. 1, 2025, or his medical license would be suspended.

Kabongo will also have to pay the costs of the investigation and hearing, $10,985.00.

This is the same doctor who, in June 2024, was suspended from practising for one month for unprofessional conduct. He had prescribed Ivermectin to three patients to either treat or prevent COVID-19.

There is no conclusive evidence Ivermectin has any effect on COVID-19 and in 2021 various medical and medical practitioner associations in Saskatchewan put out a joint statement to that effect, saying Ivermectin is only approved for the treatment of parasitic infections and rosacea.

According to the college, the assessment and decision around Kabongo’s competency didn’t have anything to do with charges of unprofessional conduct.