Gauteng public hospitals are owed money which “is desperately needed to improve treatment in our hospitals”‚ the Democratic Alliance said. The facilities are owed R38.2-million by the Workmens Compensation Fund‚ said the party’s Jack Bloom‚ “with some claims dating back to 2001”.According to Bloom‚ this was disclosed in a reply given by Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu‚ which showed that in the last three years‚ “9061 claims were lodged by the department for a total value of R17.4-million‚ but only R3.34-million was paid out by the Fund”.Workers whose employers are registered with the Fund can claim if they are involved in an accident at work or develop an illness caused by working conditions.Mahlangu apparently attributed the underrecovery “to insufficient information provided by the patient with regard to employers' details‚ and employers not completing the relevant employers report”‚ as well a “a lack of response by the Fund to the claims submitted”.The amounts owing are:- Steve Biko Hospital R7. 5-million.- Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg - R4.9 million- Tembisa - R4.416 million- George Mukhari - R4.399 million- Thelle Mogoerane (Natalspruit) - R2.47 million- Helen Joseph - R2.19 million- Kalafong - R1.95 million - Chris Hani Baragwanath - R1.78 million- Leratong - R1.37 million“The hospital with least owing to it is Rahima Moosa Hospital‚ where only R5186 is outstanding.” Said Bloom.“The department appointed a service provider in November last year to assist in recovery of outstanding claims from the Fund‚ but this measure has clearly failed. “Effective measures should be taken to ensure that outstanding money is recovered as soon as possible.”..