College orders retraining for Regina family doctor who prescribed ivermectin for COVID-19

A Regina family doctor found to have prescribed ivermectin, an anti-parasitic medicine, for COVID-19 is facing potential suspension unless he shows he can adequately practise medicine.

A competency hearing was held Dec. 16, 2024, for Dr. Tshipita Kabongo, who has faced several non-criminal charges for unprofessional conduct from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan in recent years.

The competency hearing committee unanimously agreed his practice does not meet the standard of care from a family physician, according to its decision. It also concluded he does not have "adequate skills and knowledge in the practice of medicine."

"There is a concern not only for substandard family practice care, but also potentially unsafe care due to unclear clinical decision making," the hearing committee decision said.

"While Dr. Kabongo does appear to be relatively knowledgeable with background medical knowledge, there was frequently poor translation of this knowledge into practice — an absolutely critical skill necessary for any physician."

Following another hearing this month, the committee said he will be suspended on June 1, 2025, if he has not entered into a retraining program.

He could also be suspended as of Dec. 1, 2025, unless he can prove he "has completed the retraining program" and that "the remedial training program has resulted in Dr. Kabongo regaining adequate skill and knowledge to practise," the decision says.

He could also be suspended in December if he has not, by then, paid hearing and investigation costs of $10,985.

CBC reached out to Kabongo for comment, but was told by his office he was not available.

Kabongo was charged with unprofessional conduct in March 2023 for prescribing ivermectin to patients as a viral prophylactic — meaning to prevent viral disease — and/or to treat COVID-19, a previous college decision says.

It also says Kabongo's medical records did not properly document his prescriptions for ivermectin.

The college said that happened while Kabongo was a family doctor at Integrated Wellness and Health Balance Centre in Regina, from April 9, 2020, to March 24, 2022.

Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic pharmaceutical drug that can be safe for humans with the right prescription and dosage, and has helped eradicate diseases like river blindness in multiple countries.

It is predominantly used in higher doses to treat livestock, like cows or horses, to control both intestinal parasites and some skin parasites.

However, after the COVID-19 pandemic began, it was touted by some — without evidence — as a wonder drug to treat the virus that causes the disease, leading to an upsurge in calls to Alberta poison hotline and to lawsuits in the U.S. over access to the drug.

The Saskatchewan physicians' college also detailed instances of inappropriate prescriptions or treatment with different patients by Kabongo in a June 2024 hearing.

In one instance, it said he poorly managed a patient's "chronic, progressive and ultimately fatal neurological disease," including inappropriately prescribing cannabinoids, benzodiazepines, vitamin B12 and ivermectin.

After the June 2024 hearing, the college suspended Kabongo for one month and ordered that he be supervised by another doctor. It also ordered him to pay $44,783.72 in costs related to the investigation and hearing.