R23.6 billion paid in medical legal claims from 2020 to date – a red herring for NHI
12 March 2024
In response to a parliamentary question, the DA can reveal that R23.6 billion has been paid in medico-legal claims across our provinces from January 2020 to December 2023. Further, R1.3 billion has been spent in legal costs for these cases. This figure is staggering, especially considering the widespread shortages of healthcare funding across our provinces and bodes terribly for the ANC’s National Health Insurance (NHI) pipedream.
A total of 3 522 claims were filed, with sadly, our poorer, more rural provinces taking the lion’s share. Notably, Limpopo alone had a quarter (903) of claims filed, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with over a fifth (779).
Also notable is the omission of the Eastern Cape’s figures, as the province is still verifying its figures, but it is without doubt that the province will continue to have the highest claims filed, the highest legal costs and highest claims paid.
Broken down in claims paid per province, KwaZulu-Natal has paid the most, with an eye-watering R8.67 billion paid. KZN is followed by the Free State, with R2.48 billion, and Gauteng with R1.89 billion. Broken down in legal costs per province, Gauteng spent the most, with R634 million, followed by KZN and Mpumalanga which spent R328 million and R224 million respectively.