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Dept faces R380m legal claims
07/11/2007 14:00 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The Gauteng health department faces legal claims of R380m from patients aggrieved by their treatment in state hospitals, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Wednesday.
"I am not surprised by the avalanche of malpractice claims as service has deteriorated alarmingly in our hospitals," said DA health spokesperson Jack Bloom.
He said the accumulated figure was disclosed in financial statements included in the department's recently released annual report.
The claims liability had been reduced by R23m last year, mostly through payouts to complainants, he said.
"It is surely better to spend effectively in improving service instead of paying out large amounts that cannot really compensate for injury from poor treatment," Bloom said.
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