Question NW2555 to the Minister of Health
15 September 2022 - NW2555
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health
(1)(a) What is the total number of state mortuaries in each province, (b) do all state mortuaries have the necessary equipment as per standard requirements, (c) what is the total number of qualified pathologists at each facility in each province, (d) are all staff at such mortuaries properly trained and/or capacitated to do their duties and (e) what are the specific removal times of the deceased as per the required regulation time frames; (2) whether all mortuaries have the necessary infrastructure to be able to operate in a functional environment; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what total number of (a) vehicles and (b) staff was supposed to be allocated towards each facility?
Reply:
EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE
|
a) Total Number of Mortuaries |
(b) Necessary equipment as per standard requirements |
(c)Total number of qualified Pathologists |
(d) Are all staff trained /capacitated to their duties. |
|
25 |
Most facilities have standard equipment |
3 in total |
Yes |
d) Some facilities in the Eastern Cape do not have an Xray machine however equipment from the adjacent mortuaries is utilised.
(e) For all mortuaries in South Africa, removal of bodies at incident scenes is determined by several factors: -
- Time taken by the SAPS to complete their incident scene investigation
- Reaction time taken by FPS to reach the scene (traffic)
- The distance between the mortuary and the area of the scene.
- The mortuaries have Forensic Pathology Officers (FPO’s) on standby 24 hours.
2. Yes, all mortuaries have the necessary infrastructure to function. Details are in table below. There are also holding facilities where the human remains are only stored, and autopsies are conducted in another facility.
|
Total Vehicles |
Total staff at facilities |
|
48 |
175 |
FREE STATE PROVINCE
(1)
|
(a)Total Number of Mortuaries |
(b) Necessary equipment as per standard requirements |
(c)Total number of qualified Pathologists |
(d) Are all staff trained /capacitated to their duties. |
|
11 |
Most facilities have standard equipment |
6 in total |
Yes |
(b) Some facilities in Free State do not have an Xray machine however equipment from the adjacent mortuaries is utilised.
2. Yes, all mortuaries have the necessary infrastructure to function. Details are in table below. There are also holding facilities where the human remains are only stored, and autopsies are conducted in another facility. There are however infrastructure challenges in some mortuaries hosted within SAPS premises.
|
Total Vehicles |
Total staff at facilities |
|
14 |
22 |
GAUTENG PROVINCE
|
(a) Total Number of Mortuaries |
(b) Necessary equipment as per standard requirements |
(c)Total number of qualified Pathologists |
(d) Are all staff trained /capacitated to their duties. |
|
11 |
Most facilities have standard equipment |
12 in total |
Yes |
b) Some facilities in the Gauteng do not have an Xray machine however equipment from the adjacent mortuaries is utilised.
2. Yes, mortuaries have the necessary infrastructure to functional environment. Details are in table below.
|
Total Vehicles |
Total staff at facilities |
|
88 |
330 |
LIMPOPO PROVINCE
|
(a)Total Number of Mortuaries |
(b) Necessary equipment as per standard requirements |
(c)Total number of qualified Pathologists |
(d) Are all staff trained /capacitated to their duties. |
|
15 |
Most facilities have standard equipment |
6 in total |
Yes |
b) Some facilities in the Limpopo are currently using a manual head saw it is envisaged that procurement of an electric head saw with extraction fan will improve the functioning of such facilities.
2. Yes, mortuaries have the necessary infrastructure to functional environment. There are also holding facilities where the human remains are only stored, and autopsies are conducted in another facility Details are in table 1 below.
|
Total Vehicles |
Total staff at facilities |
|
59 |
94 |
MPUMALANGA PROVINCE
(1)
|
(a)Total Number of Mortuaries |
(b) Necessary equipment as per standard requirements |
(c)Total number of qualified Pathologists |
(d) Are all staff trained /capacitated to their duties. |
|
21 |
Most facilities have standard equipment |
1 |
Yes |
b) Some facilities in Mpumalanga do not have an Xray machine, hydraulic lifting trolleys, autopsy head saw and foldable stretchers however equipment from the adjacent mortuaries is utilised.
(2) Yes, mortuaries have the necessary infrastructure to functional environment. Details are in table below. There are also holding facilities where the human remains are only stored, and autopsies are conducted in another facility.
|
Total Vehicles |
Total staff at facilities |
|
59 |
94 |
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE
(1)
|
(a)Total Number of Mortuaries |
(b) Necessary equipment as per standard requirements |
(c)Total number of qualified Pathologists |
(d) Are all staff trained /capacitated to their duties. |
|
11 |
Most facilities have standard equipment |
1 |
Yes |
(b) Some facilities in the Northern Cape do not have an Xray machine however one Xray machine has been incorporated in the construction plan for Frances Baard mortuary where Specialist/ Pathologist services are available
(2) Yes, mortuaries have the necessary infrastructure to functional environment. Details are in table below. There are also holding facilities where the human remains are only stored, and autopsies are conducted in another facility.
|
Total Vehicles |
Total staff at facilities |
|
27 |
53 |
The Northwest and Western Cape responses are still outstanding.
END.