GAUTENG hospitals have written off R62,5-million in bad debt over the past three years, according to the Gauteng health department. More than R146-million was owed to provincial hospitals by patients who were either unable or unwilling to pay the debt, Gauteng health MEC Dr Gwen Ramokgopa said in a reply to a question by Democratic Party legislator Jack Bloom. Hardest hit by bad debt were Johannesburg Hospital, which is currently owed R44,2-million, Pretoria Academic Hospital which is owed R32,9-million, and Ga-Rankuwa Hospital, owed R19,1-million.