19 Apr 2022

More than 300 civil law suits have been lodged against the Ministry of Health and Wellness from 2015 to date.

Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe explained in response to a question in Parliament on Wednesday  that not all of the law suits were due to negligence.

He explained that since those law suits were many and varied, he decided to divide them according to their thematic areas.

Mr Lelatisitswe said the thematic areas covered complaints on general services; obstetrics and gynecology services; neonatal and under five child care services; alleged diagnostic and medication errors and complaints alleging that negligence led to death of a loved one.

Mr Lelatisitswe said the total amount claimed from those thematic categories was approximately P670 million.

“I must underscore that the value given here is for claims that have been instituted against my ministry, and not what has so far been awarded and or paid to the litigants.This is because the cases are at different stages of adjudication by the ministry and the courts,” he said. Tati West legislator, Mr Simon Moabi had asked the minister to state the number of civil law suits involving cases of negligence which had been lodged against the Ministry of Health and Wellness. 

He also wanted the minister to give the reason for each civil suit involving medical negligence and the value of each claim. Ends