In 2022, 75-year-old Nora Mocheko suffered a severe allergic reaction to medication given to her by a nurse at Rebone Clinic in Mokopane area, Limpopo. Two years later and her family says there is still no acceptance of accountability or explanation from health authorities.

Health-e News reported about Mocheko’s ordeal. 

The elderly woman suffered burn-like wounds on her neck, buttocks, under the breasts and on her thighs after taking cotrimoxazole tablets prescribed by a nurse. This was despite her refusal of the tablets knowing the drug had triggered severe reactions in the past.  Cotrimoxazole is used to treat bacterial infections including pneumonia, lung infection and bronchitis. 

At the time, Limpopo Department of Health spokesperson Neil Shikwambana, told Health-e News that the matter was under investigation. He also said that feedback would be provided once the investigation was concluded. 

No explanation yet

“There is no word yet from the clinic and Limpopo Department of Health on what actually happened,” Thabiso Mocheko, her granddaughter, tells Health-e News. 

Mocheko’s wounds had been so severe that she was admitted to Ellisras Hospital and later transferred to Polokwane Hospital where she had to go back monthly for medical treatment. For about a year she was being treated for the allergic reaction, and collecting her chronic medication. These monthly appointments were later moved to Ellisras Hospital, but this was 120 km from Mocheko’s home.

“The trips were costly for us, and besides, she is too old to travel alone so we had to pay for an escort as well. It was also problematic with long trips because often when they finished late at the hospital there was no public transport. At times the pair would leave without treatment just to catch a taxi home before it became dark,” Thabiso explains.

“But since last year, after we pleaded with some nurses and doctors at Ellisras Hospital, she is now able to get treatment from the same Rebone Clinic which is a walking distance from home.” 

This is the same clinic where Mocheko was given cotrimoxazole.  

Still no word from Limpopo health 

Despite acknowledging receipt of a set of written questions from Health-e News in August, Shikwambana did not respond. 

The Limpopo Department of Health is currently prone to several lawsuits ranging from negligence, missed diagnosis, systems errors, failure to obtain informed consent and others.

The department forked out R266.8 million in medico legal claims from January 2020 to December 2024, according to a written response to the DA, Provincial Legislature member, Lindi Wilson in March this year.  

During the period, the department was facing 903 medico legal claims and had already spent R63.1 million on legal costs.

The department also didn’t respond to our   request for an update on the millions spent on lawsuits initiated by patients.

While some aggrieved patients or their relatives often take the provincial health department to courts for damages, a few who can’t afford legal fees for private lawyers to litigate turn to the  South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).

However the SAHRC does not take cases to court. 

“The Commission investigates and develops reports and makes recommendations which are binding. We also mediate between the parties,” explains SAHRC provincial manager Victor Mavhidula. 

Right to courtesy

Forster Mohale, spokesperson for the National Department of Health says, everyone in South Africa has the right to complain about the quality of healthcare they receive. 

“Complaints are supposed to be acknowledged within a few hours or days and get investigated at the facility level and response sent to the complainant. Complaints can be escalated to the higher level up to the province and national if they can’t be resolved at the lower level.”  

 Mohale adds that the National Department of Health has developed national guidelines to manage complaints, compliments and suggestions to assist health establishments to comply with the standards as set out by the Department of Public Services and Administration and the Department of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation. –Health-e News