Payouts by provincial health departments for medical negligence have fallen significantly in recent years. Yet the financial burden on the public health system remains enormous. A landmark court ruling has also closed the door on one proposed solution. According to National Treasury figures, negligence payouts dropped from R1.8 billion in 2019/20 to R1.5 billion in 2023/24. Health Minister Dr Aaron…
Tag: Medical Negligence
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Medical Negligence Compensation Reform Impacts on Budgets
South Africa’s system for compensating victims of medical negligence is under severe pressure. Nowhere is that clearer than in the Eastern Cape. The province paid out more than R630m in medical negligence claims in the 2024/25 financial year. That is about 2% of its R30.1bn budget. The Eastern Cape governent didn’t plan for these payouts, and the result is predictable.…
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EC Medico-Legal Claims: SCA Overturns Public Care Remedy
The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has struck down a High Court approach that could have reshaped the way the Eastern Cape Department of Health handles escalating medico-legal claims. The appeal court ruled on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, that allowing the department to provide future healthcare services instead of paying damages “violated the child’s best interests”. Appeal Court judge Ashton…
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Gauteng Patients Face Alarming Spike in Adverse Events
Gauteng’s public healthcare system is facing intense scrutiny. This follows the revelation that Gauteng patients suffered 7,386 Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) in state hospitals between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025. The figures, confirmed by Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, represent a troubling increase from the 7,117 incidents reported in the previous year. Despite thousands of…
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Limpopo Health Budget Under Siege by Legal Claims
The Limpopo Department of Health is teetering on the brink of a financial catastrophe. Actual and potential medico-legal claims necessitate an allocation of an astounding R12.7 billion. This is just under half of its R26.1 billion annual budget. This figure highlights a crisis in the province’s healthcare system. As a result, the provincial government diverts critical funds away from essential…
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Medico-Legal Claims Impacting Public Health Budgets
South Africa’s public healthcare system is under severe financial strain. The total value of medico-legal claims against the state has skyrocketed to an astonishing R77 billion as of March 2024. Provincial health departments, particularly in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng, are battling thousands of lawsuits. These lawsuits divert critical funds away from essential patient services. In a written reply to…