The KwaZulu-Natal health department is facing 1356 legal claims.
This emerged from a report presented to the provincial health portfolio committee in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday.
According to the report the cases date back as far as 2004, with 515 being medical malpractice or negligence claims.
Of these 515, some 70% relate to minors, which can only be closed three years after the children have reached the age of maturity and in the event they decide not to pursue the department.
There were also 284 civil claims and 156 labour claims against the department. No details regarding these claims were provided in the report.
Additionally the department faced 401 claims for what were termed "collision claims".
The report was compiled by the department's legal services section.
Head of department Sibonele Zungu said these legal claims related to health department officials being involved in traffic accidents.