Bhisho gives health major injection

The Eastern Cape department of health has received the lion’s share of the adjusted provincial budget, receiving R527-million of the reallocated R782.2-million.

This was revealed by finance MEC Sakhumzi Somyo, who delivered his medium-term budget policy speech yesterday in Bhisho. He said the money would go towards addressing staff shortages in 18 “priority” hospitals hardest hit by medico legal claims.

The province is being sued for R17-billion in medico legal claims for medical negligence in public hospitals, which Somyo said would “pose significant fiscal risk to the province”.

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