TimesLive reports that sky-high medical negligence claims are forcing obstetricians out of private practice, to the extent that the gynaecological society has warned that there won't be any left in the private sector by 2020.  

This year private-practice obstetricians had to pay R650,000 in medical insurance premiums and this is expected to hit R850,000 next year, forcing more of them to stop delivering babies and work only in gynaecology.  About R5,000 of the fee for a delivery is to cover medical insurance.  "There are going to be probably 200 to 350 obstetricians left next year.  If things continue as they are, by 2020 we will not have a private-practice obstetrician in this country," society head Johan van Waart warned.  Insurance payouts can be between R10-million and R21-million.

• Read this informative report by Penwell Dlamini and Katharine Child in full at TimesLive

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