Devi | Sunshine Hospital | 04 June 2023

SUNSHINE HOSPITAL

With a severe shortage of healthcare workers and a surgery backlog of 175 000, state hospitals are bleeding and in a state of collapse. Patients, entitled to this Constitutional right, suffer the consequences.

Over the past 21 years, Sunshine Hospital, a private hospital in Gauteng treated thousands of motor vehicle accident patients without medical aid.  The hospital received their payment through claims submitted to the Road Accident Fund.

But, at the end of April, Sunshine closed its doors due to protracted legal battles with the RAF, who, over the years stalled payments despite numerous court orders.   

How and why was the RAF instrumental in the closure of a hospital which ultimately fulfilled the constitutional obligations of the RAF - to provide social security and access to healthcare services to the poorest of the poor.