Gauteng Health MEC Dr Bandile Masuku wants a legislative framework that compels victims of medical negligence from the provincial healthcare system to be treated at public hospitals, reports Sunday Independent.
Currently, Gauteng Health is facing a massive R22bn in medical negligence lawsuits.
Masuku questioned the current method of calculating compensation for damages incurred at public hospitals using private sector rates. "We know … private rates in most instances are overrated and unreasonable. The Competition Commission declared that these costs should come down because it's quite unfair to take a bit from the public purse to pay private hospitals and private doctors."
Part of his plan to keep the costs down is to encourage patiens to first consider mediation as a way of redressing incidents of medical negligence in public healthcare.
[link url="https://www.iol.co.za/sundayindependent/bid-to-cap-cost-of-botched-public-healthcare-services-30298802"]Sunday Independent report[/link]