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: South Africa health news
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Gauteng Surgical Backlog Leaves Cancer Patient in Limbo
A Gauteng man with aggressive skin cancer faces an eight-month wait for urgent surgery. This comes amid a 34,000-strong surgical backlog, highlighting a deepening healthcare crisis. The Gauteng surgical backlog has reached critical levels, with over 34,000 patients waiting for procedures across the province’s public hospitals. Salomé Meyer, director of the Cancer Alliance, condemned the system that classifies cancer operations…