Medico-legal claims cost over R1.1bn – Motsoaledi

HEALTH Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has disclosed that the cost of medico-legal claims has exceeded R1.1 billion since April 2024 alone.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

This alarming figure is part of a broader trend, with the cumulative costs breaching R6.1 billion between 2019 and 2023.

This came to light in Motsoaledi's response to parliamentary questions from DA MP Michele Clarke.

Motsoaledi said the cost of the medico-legal claims from April 2024 to date totalled R1 106 972 117,65.

Of this amount, Gauteng has notched up R421m followed by the Eastern Cape with R306m and Western Cape R128m while Northern Cape recorded a mere R2.1m during the same period.

Motsoaledi gave the breakdown for medico-legal claims costs per year as follows:

◆2019-20 was R1.5 billion;

◆2020-21 is R1.7 billion;

◆2021-22 recorded R936m;

◆2022-23 stood at R1.2 billion, and

◆2023-24 was R1.1 billion.

The minister disclosed that at least 1652 medico-legal claims have been filed with 1131 from the Eastern Cape. Limpopo recorded 174 and Mpumalanga 114. Motsoaledi noted that a total of 277 cases have been paid either in full or in part, or have had payments directed towards equipment and services by the provinces.