South Africa: Medical Negligence Costs Billions, but SA Still Can't Measure Patient Harm

South Africa's medical-negligence crisis is a significant issue that extends beyond individual healthcare professionals, with experts warning that weak leadership, poor adherence to clinical guidelines, inadequate documentation, staff shortages, and a lack of reliable data contribute to preventable harm remaining invisible. The Eastern Cape has seen its estimated medico-legal liability decrease from R38 billion to R19 billion over five years, but experts caution that a lower projected compensation bill does not necessarily mean fewer patients are being harmed.

Professor Malegapuru William Makgoba, former Health Ombud, emphasizes that South Africa still lacks a reliable national picture of how many patients die or suffer serious harm due to healthcare failures, while Professor Alex van den Heever, an expert in healthcare administration, suggests that the legal process is a consequence of the failure to prevent negligence.

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