Pretoria - The Gauteng Department of Health says it has saved about R61 million in medico legal claims through mediation.
The department on Thursday said the amount accounts for various cases which were taken through mediation process instead of following the legal route.
To reduce medico legal claims, the department said it has conducted a legal audit to try and get to the bottom of the escalation.
“The mediation process forms part of the department’s alternative dispute resolutions, which are yielding positive results,” said the department.
Responding to a Legislature question, provincial Health MEC Dr Gwen Ramokgopa said the department had settled about 185 claims since January 2015 to the value of R1 billion.
She has expressed concern with the rising medico legal claims. MEC Ramokgopa believes that the legal audit currently underway will come up with the best possible solution on how to handle medico claims going forward.
The MEC said the department currently has about 51 cases still before the court, while adding that all health professionals involved in each case will be held to account for their actions accordingly.
“The Department’s Quality Assurance Directorate has been instructed to follow up audits for compliance and sustained improvements against approved norms and standards,” said the department. - SAnews.gov.za
