South Africa’s emergency medical services (EMS) face a critical shortfall of over 2,000 ambulances, according to former Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi. This deficit is straining EMS operations, leading to delays or outright failures in response times, with severe consequences for patients.

DSC Attorneys, a prominent personal injury law firm, warns that such delays can constitute grounds for legal action when they result in preventable deaths or worsened health outcomes. Kirstie Haslam, a partner at the firm, confirmed that victims and their families may be entitled to compensation for emergency medical negligence, which often results from late ambulance arrivals.

National guidelines stipulate one ambulance per 10,000 people, a target unmet in provinces like the Eastern Cape, North West, and parts of KwaZulu-Natal. Reports highlight patients enduring hours-long waits or receiving no assistance, with dire outcomes: children dying from treatable conditions, stroke and heart attack victims facing permanent disability, and rural areas left without emergency care.

Haslam notes that such failures breach the constitutional right to healthcare under Section 27, potentially rendering the state or EMS providers liable. Liability may rest with provincial health departments for systemic under-resourcing, private EMS providers for negligence, or hospitals for poor coordination.

Victims of EMS failures are advised to meticulously document incidents, including when the emergency was reported and the ambulance’s response time, if any. Haslam advises securing medical records and consulting a personal injury attorney to explore claims under medical malpractice or constitutional law.