The party alleged in a statement it issued yesterday that medical negligence claims account for the biggest portion of this number and these stand at R1,6 billion. The party in the province’s Andrew Louw said another concern they have is that if all claims are successful, the ailing department could soon be bankrupt by paying these claims, when rather it could have used that money for service delivery issues.

“It is unlikely that errant doctors and nurses alone are responsible for these mounting medical negligence claims. Instead, this constant rise in medical negligence claims is a symptom of a much more serious problem,” Louw said.

He also added that this year alone, the provincial department allegedly had negligent claims worth about R400 million and this was noted during the department’s recent annual presentation. He also said that the growing medico-legal claims speak to a number of issues including a lack of staff, overworked staff, improperly qualified staff, shortage of pharmaceuticals, the absence of critical equipment and many more issues the party has noted. Louw said the party would request a detailed breakdown of contingent liabilities against the Health Department from MEC Fufe Makatong, in a letter he will write to her later this week. He further said that he wanted to refute rumours that this was another move from the opposition to discredit the ruling party. “For me, this matter is very personal because I lost both my mother and sister to state hospitals and so I will not stop until we get answers as to why the department when it is such a crucial one, is performing the way it does,” Louw said angrily. He further expressed that he was rather disappointed in Makatong, who he said was very vocal on issues related to health in the province prior to her appointment as the MEC. “Now that she’s the MEC, she’s just quiet on these issues,” Louw said.

OFM News