Gauteng health may end up with deficit of R2 billion due to civil claims
25 June 2018
In the 2018/19 financial year, the Gauteng Department of Health will most probably have to spend more than half of its budget on settling civil claims of approximately R22 billion relating to medical treatment, should the claims be successful.
The Department must also pay an amount of R161 million to the families of the victims of the Life Esidimeni tragedy.
If most of the claims are successful, the Department will have a measly R24 billion left of its total allocated budget of R46 billion, which is the largest amount allocated in the provincial budget. It will be insufficient to deliver the basic services in hospitals and clinics in Gauteng.
This amount is very little seen in the light of the fact that the maintenance of hospital equipment, like the repair of equipment used to treat cancer, is extremely expensive. The contracts for removal of medical waste must also be renewed and salaries must be paid.