The three doctors from Ngarama Hospital who the police arrested last year in connection with the death of an expectant mother after a botched operation have been temporarily suspended.

Rwanda Medical Council members will soon meet to decide whether the doctors deserve to be deregistered as medical practitioners.

"Rwanda Medical Council (RMC) president recently suspended the doctors temporarily,” the director of Ngarama Hospital, Dr. Benon Rukunda Karekezi confirmed yesterday by phone.

Rukunda added that the level of the criminality on the side of the doctors against the pregnant mother will be determined by court.

Dr Innocent Gakwaya, RMC president could not be reached for comment by press time.

The mother, Didacienne Bankundiye, 32, died on November 24 last year after two unsuccessful operations at Ngarama hospital, in Gatsibo District.

Earlier reports from the hospital had allegedly that the doctors who operated on her were not qualified to carry out the procedure.

The doctors, Ric Kikoli, N'sapu, Yamba Yamba and Anicet Mashauri, reportedly handled a complicated operation with no requisite skills.

The first operation was done on November 5 and it was not successful. The second major surgery on November 7 was very bad.

Bankundiye’s condition reportedly worsened after the second operation which should have been handled by highly experienced doctors.

Sources from the hospital had earlier said that they delayed in transferring the deceased to Kigali University Hospital (CHU/K) where she died hours later.

The Minister of Health Dr. Richard Sezibera welcomed the development when contacted on Friday. "I am not aware about the development (suspension) but this sounds positive,” Sezibera said on phone, adding "this will warn other medical practitioners.”

The minister had late last year written to police demanding an immediate investigation into the matter and those found culpable be prosecuted.

"The Ministry in conjunction with the Rwanda Medical Council will work together to make sure the doctors are deregistered,” Dr Sezibera's letter, dated December, 13 read in part.

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