The Gauteng health department has paid R11.6 million to the family of an eight-year-old boy who suffered cerebral palsy after treatment at the Far East Rand hospital, it said on Monday.
The full amount was transferred to the account of Ntokozo Skhosana's lawyer on Monday said spokesman Simon Zwane.
He said the department was ordered to make the payment by the High Court in Johannesburg.
“The department is doing everything it can to ensure that other children born and treated in our hospitals are not injured or harmed through the negligence of our staff,” said Zwane
He said the department had approved the appointment of seven doctors at the hospital to increase the availability of health professionals and to reduce the type of incidents that resulted in Skhosana's injury.
“The hospital is also required to hold regular meetings to determine how many children were born, find out if there were injuries or deaths, establish the causes of injuries or deaths and put in place preventative measures,” said Zwane. - Sapa