MEDIA RELEASE, March 29, 2000
Resolution of Southern Cardiothoracic Institute Litigation
Litigation by the Southern Cardiothoracic Institute against the Minister of
Health has been successfully resolved.
The dispute related to SCI's bid to provide cardiothoracic facilities in the South Island at Dunedin and Christchurch
Hospitals in 1995.
Health Minister Annette King said today: "I am pleased the parties have reached an out of court settlement for
significantly less than sought by the Southern Cardiothoracic Institute."
The parties to this proceeding had agreed to settle for the sum of $450,000, she said.
"While the Crown believed it had a strong case, there were complex issues that would have been costly to resolve at
trial. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money have already been spent trying to resolve this legacy from the
previous Government," Mrs King said.
The settlement will be met within current Vote Health baselines.
ENDS