Johannesburg – It has emerged that Gauteng has a backlog of more than 17 000 toxicology cases and over 7 000 histology cases, with some dating as far as 2007.
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) on Thursday said it would like to assure the public of the reduction of the toxicology and histology cases backlogs.
Toxicology reports indicate the type and approximate amount of legal and illegal drugs that are in the deceased’s body by measuring how much of the substances are in their blood, urine, or other bodily fluids.
Histopathology on the other hand focuses on the diagnosis and study of diseases of the tissues and involves examining tissues and/or cells under a microscope.
The GDoH said dealing with toxicology and histology cases remains a priority for Gauteng Forensic Pathology Service.
“The province is currently tackling over 17 000 toxicology cases and over 7 000 histology cases with some dating as far as 2007,” the GDoH said.
“Although this is a nationwide challenge, the GDoH has committed to put measures in place to fast-track the addressing of the backlogs.”
The GDoH said the backlogs can be attributed to a combination of factors, including the emergence of foreign drugs that are difficult to trace, an increase in cases involving sudden deaths, and suspicion of poisoning among family members in case of unexpected death.
In addition, the absence of medical histories for certain deceased individuals (this leads to prolonged multiple tests on one body), and the limited availability of private laboratories willing to conduct state toxicology tests and appear as expert witnesses in court.
“We are fully aware of the impact the backlogs have on the families of the deceased, who are seeking closure and facing material trauma due to long delays in finalising estates,” explains Thembalethu Mpahlaza, the acting Chief Executive Officer of the Gauteng Forensic Pathology Service.
“We also understand that insurance claims are being affected, we are fast-tracking interventions to resolve this issue.”
The GDoH said it will continue to engage external private partners through public-private partnerships to augment the current capacity to process cases.
The department said it has embarked on a drive to recruit specialist toxicologists to boost the capacity of the existing team and enhance the ability to process cases more expeditiously.
The GDoH said the opening of the Garankuwa Forensic Pathology Service Training Room, which will contribute towards producing highly skilled people in the field of forensic pathology, will lead to the development of histopathologists.
“In the first quarter of the new financial year, the long-awaited state-of-the-art Forensic Medical Service facility at Helen Joseph Hospital will open its doors,” the GDoH said.
“The structure will make provision for an in-house toxicology laboratory among other laboratories.
“This will be a major game changer in dealing with the historic backlogs.”
