By Buba Gagigo
The Government of the Gambia has accepted TRRC recommendation to revoke indefinitely the practising licence of Dr Tamsir Mbowe, erstwhile Minister of Health & Social Welfare and Director of the President’s Alternative Treatment Programme (PATP).
“The Government also accepts the recommendation to revoke Dr Tamsir Mbowe’s practising licence indefinitely for failing to honour the medical code of conduct and the role he played in the fake PATP,” the White paper announced.
Dr. Mbowe is accused of failing to honour the medical code of conduct by endorsing the President’s Alternative Treatment Programme claiming to cure the HIV virus, which resulted in the death of 41 patients according to the TRRC.
The paper added that the Government directed relevant authorities to conduct further investigation for President Yahya Jammeh and Dr. Tamsir Mbowe to be dealt with according to law, based on the outcome of the investigations.
Among others, the Government further revealed accepting the Commission’s recommendation to prosecute Yahya Jammeh and Dr. Tamsir Mbowe for ‘causing deaths’ of People Living with HIV Virus (PLHV), during the President’s Alternative Treatment Programme (PATP) administered by Jammeh himself and assisted by Dr. Mbowe.
“Prosecute Yahya Jammeh and Dr Tamsir Mbowe for negligence causing deaths of PLHV who took part in the programme who were deprived from lifesaving treatment.
“Prosecute Yahya Jammeh and Dr Tamsir Mbowe for the inhumane and degrading treatment meted out on PLHIV that took part in the treatment programme.
“Prosecute Yayha Jammeh for admitting children into the PATP in violation of the provisions of the Children’s Act 2005 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,” the Gov’t White Paper stated the position of the Gov’t on Wednesday.
The announcement followed the TRRC recommendation for both former president Yahya Jammeh and Dr Tamsir Mbowe to be prosecuted and Mbowe’s practising licence be revoked ‘indefinitely’ for failing to honour the medical code of conduct.
However, on the recommendation to prosecute former President Yahya Jammeh and Dr. Tamsir Mbowe that they had intended to cause the deaths of the patients of People Living with HIV Virus (PLHV) during the President’s Alternative Treatment Programme (PATP); the Government noted that the evidence before the Commission was not sufficient to establish so; stating that the availability of such direct evidence of intent will be crucial in sustaining a charge of murder, according to the paper.