The medical claims currently payable by the Free State Department of Health amount to more than R24 million.
These claims relate to negligence by healthcare workers.
The Free State MEC for Health, Mmathabo Leeto, admitted in reply to a question from the FF Plus in the Free State Legislature that negligence resulted in, among other things, the death of an unborn baby.
Negligence also resulted in two children now having cerebral palsy.
In another case, a swab was left in a patient’s abdomen, resulting in a serious gallbladder injury.
The FF Plus is particularly concerned about the 418 pending cases against the Department. As many as 173 of these claims relate to after-birth complications of children with cerebral palsy.
Although negligence still needs to be proven in these cases, the FF Plus is concerned about the incidents lodged against the Department and claims that could have been prevented.
Meanwhile, the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill is being presented as the solution to all the health-related problems in the province.
The NHI will, however, not address negligent doctors and nurses.
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