OUTA in support of amnesty for legal firms involved in fraudulent medical claims
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse has urged the Department of Health to name and shame all the legal firms and independent lawyers involved in fraudulent claims.
This comes after the department and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) offered amnesty to lawyers who have knowingly filed fraudulent medico-legal claims to withdraw them within two weeks with no consequences.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi briefed the media in Pretoria on Saturday.
He said his department is facing fraud in medico-legal claims across the country.
Motsoaledi said in 2017, the SIU started the work by targeting provinces with the highest share of claims.
By that time, the Eastern Cape contingent liability in respect of the claims amounted to R15.9 billion, while in Gauteng the figure was R21.2 billion.
OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenhage says they are in support of the amnesty as it fast-tracks the process of dealing with fraudulent claims.
“They need to come clean, and we need to know who they are because the consequences of them doing this again are going to be slim, and they are going to be regarded as legal firms that don’t have the necessary ethics.
“I think Minister Motsoaledi is trying to clean up the legal fraternity. It’s not only in the Road Accident Fund but in many other areas, so we look forward to seeing the results of this,” added Duvhenhage.
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