Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
17 March 2024 | 21:12 CAT

Image: BusinessLIVE

The Gauteng Health Department is bleeding money after paying R623 million to patients who sued it for negligence and malpractice following procedures done at the province’s hospitals in only nine months.

One poignant case involves Tebogo*, who lost his leg due to a seven-hour delay in receiving proper medical attention. This resulted in profound life changes and financial struggles. His attorney seeks R15 million in compensation to address Tebogo’s suffering. Despite the department’s denial of negligence, a court found otherwise, ordering them to cover Tebogo’s legal fees.

Additionally, it has forked out an unhealthy R597 million to private lawyers and state legal services – bringing the overspending in administration for medico-legal claims to 20% for the current financial year.

More concerning is that some of the healthcare facilities that were sued include some of the best State hospitals, Like Chris Hani Baragwanath, Charlotte Maxeke, and Steve Biko Academic Hospitals.

MPL DA Gauteng Shadow Health Spokesperson Jack Bloom spoke to Radio Islam International.

“These are all of our Academic Hospitals as pointed out, and are supposed to be our best hospitals,” Bloom commented.

He says, “the Chris Hani Baragwanath maternity and neo-natal section is the largest source of medical negligence claims and that is a scandal.”

According to Bloom, Baragwanath is the largest hospital in the country, and it is attached to the University of the Witwatersrand Medical School.

Bloom explains, “One would think that everything is done to ensure that births are done safely and yet we still have the horror stories of terrible conditions at the hospital.

Meanwhile, Bloom raised concerns that this needs to bode better for a planned introduction of the NHI Bill.

Listen to the full interview on Radio Islam International with Muallimah Annisa Esscak.