Medicolegal claims against the state have doubled, from R37bn to R74bn, over the past five years, further eroding Covid-affected health care and threatening specialities.

Insurance premiums against adverse events in obstetrics and gynaecology and neurosurgery now surpass R1m a year. Specialists in these disciplines, especially obstetricians, are seeking less litigious climes, retiring early or consulting to related medical fields...