Question NW3769 to the Minister of Health
24 November 2023 - NW3769
Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Health
(1)What (a) is the current backlog on toxicology analysis at each forensic chemistry laboratory of the National Health Laboratory Service in each province, (b) measures have been put in place to eradicate the backlogs and (c) total number of toxicology tests does each laboratory run on each day; (2) by what date will the backlog at each forensic laboratory in each province be eradicated?
Reply:
According to the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS):
1. (a) Toxicology tests are conducted at three Forensic Chemistry Laboratories (FCLs) in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Pretoria. The factors that contribute to the backlog include inadequate infrastructure, equipment breaking down, loadshedding, inadequate water supply, the Covid-19 pandemic and shortages in human resources.
Toxicology backlogs as at the 31 October 2023:
|
FCL |
Toxicology backlog |
Completed during October 2023 |
|
Cape Town |
6 825 |
58 |
|
Johannesburg |
14 700 |
206 |
|
Pretoria |
16 437 |
101 |
b) The NHLS has implemented strategies to address the backlogs in toxicology testing at the FCLs. In this regard the blood alcohol testing backlog has been cleared in all laboratories except the Johannesburg FCL.
The NHLS will expand the toxicology capacity in the three laboratories that currently offer toxicology testing to ensure an increase in the processing capacity at these laboratories. To this effect, additional laboratory space has been acquired from the CSIR that will accommodate a new toxicology section for the Pretoria FCL. Similar solutions are being explored for the Johannesburg and Cape Town FCLs. The NHLS have invested significantly in ensuring laboratories are equipped with functional analytic instruments through the replacement of ageing and obsolete equipment and the procurement of additional instruments for the planned expansion in services. Plans are underway to source additional laboratory space that would allow the Durban FCL to expand its service offering to include toxicology testing.
c) Toxicology cases are time-consuming, and this is mainly related to the complex nature and variability of the cases and testing processes as well as the requirement for special reference materials to complete cases. For these reasons, toxicology cases are allocated in batches to each analyst at the beginning of each month and laboratory outputs are measured on a monthly basis. Each toxicology analyst is allocated at least 15 cases per month.
2. The NHLS is determined to implement strategies to clear the backlogs in toxicology testing at the Forensic Chemistry Laboratories. At this stage it would be difficult to determine when the backlogs would be cleared. As can be seen from the various efforts that have been made, the NHLS is working towards clearing the backlog as fast as possible.
END.