Between 30 and 40 medical practitioners are reprimanded annually over varying cases of professional malpractices, according to the Rwanda Medical and Dental Council.Speaking on Wednesday at the annual meeting of medical councils of Africa in Kigali, Prof. Emile Rwamasirabo, the president of the Rwandan council said that these bodies play a major role is limiting the number of such cases that end up in court.“That’s the reason probably why people hear of few medical-related cases in Rwandan courts. A number of them are managed by the medical council and penalties meted out include deregistration, and suspension for varying periods,” he said. According to Rwamasirabo, also the Acting CEO of King Faisal Hospital-Kigali, 80 per cent of the offences handled by the council concern delivery.He said that the main challenge they face while adjudicating cases of medical malpractice is establishing the level of responsibility and the level at which the medical care provided to a patient was below minimum required standards. During the meeting, Justice minister Johnston Busingye said that doctors owe society high quality medical care.“One unnecessary mistake in a hospital by one doctor can overshadow one year’s clean record of a hospital. Hospitals have the duty to inform patients about the risks and potential effects they face in order to help the patients make informed decisions,” Busingye said.He added that in case of such mistakes, the council should come out and tell the public if the case is bona fide or a malpractice by a doctor.
