Gauteng Department of Health slashes TTG backlog, completes over 1,000 surgeries

• Gauteng Department of Health completed over 1,000 surgeries this month as part of the Mandela Month Surgical Marathon campaign.
• The Treatment Time Guarantee backlog stands at 1,857 patients who have waited longer than they were supposed to for surgery.
• The department is prioritizing these cases to reduce the backlog and improve patient care.
• Long waits can have a real cost for patients, with some waiting years in pain before receiving treatment.
• The Gauteng Department of Health's efforts may create new opportunities for patients to seek compensation under the Consumer Protection Act.

Long waits carry a real cost for patients. Virginia Zondi, 75, from Orange Farm, waited three years for a knee operation after Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital referred her to Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital in 2019.

The Gauteng Department of Health has made significant strides in reducing the Treatment Time Guarantee (TTG) backlog, with over 1,000 surgeries and clinical procedures completed this month. This achievement is part of the department's Mandela Month Surgical Marathon campaign, which ran from July 11 to 31. The campaign aimed to address the growing number of patients waiting for surgery, with a target of 1,326 procedures by the end of July. While the TTG system shows that 1,857 patients have already waited longer than they were supposed to for surgery, the department is prioritizing these cases to reduce the backlog.

The Gauteng Department of Health's efforts to reduce the TTG backlog may create new opportunities for patients to seek compensation for delayed medical treatment. The Consumer Protection Act, which governs consumer rights in South Africa, may be relevant in cases where patients have suffered due to prolonged waiting times. Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware that this development may lead to increased litigation in the healthcare sector. The TTG system tracks 20,386 surgical cases across the province, with 11,178 patients already booked for surgery and 9,208 still awaiting assessment.

The Gauteng Department of Health's efforts to reduce waiting times are crucial in improving patient care. Long waits can have a real cost for patients, as seen in the case of Virginia Zondi, who waited three years for a knee operation before turning it down due to concerns about her age and ability to recover. The department is taking steps to address this issue, including reducing cancelled operations, scheduling more surgeries on weekends and after hours, and referring patients to regional and district hospitals. However, more needs to be done to ensure that public hospitals have adequate resources, including doctors in surgery departments, to provide timely care to patients.

Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware that the Gauteng Department of Health's efforts to reduce the Treatment Time Guarantee backlog may create new opportunities for patients to seek compensation for delayed medical treatment, potentially under the Consumer Protection Act or other relevant legislation.

Source: Original reporting via Scrolla