The South African government will compensate the families of more than 100 mentally-ill patients who died from neglect after they were moved from hospital and placed into unlicenced health facilities.
At least 144 psychiatric patients died from hunger and lack of care within months in 2016, according to a damning report by the country’s health watchdog.
An agreement was reached between the families and the government to pay out $16,500 for emotional trauma, psychological injury and funeral expenses, lawyer for the victims Adila Hassim told a hearing into the deaths.
“An agreement has been reached … with an amount of 200,000 rand for each family,” said Hassim, but the deal does not cover the “constitutional damages” suffered.
Provincial government officials justified the transfer of the patients saying they were under pressure to cut down on…
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