IOL reports that Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla has blamed the country's backlog of toxicology reports on ageing equipment, delays in procurement and a shortage of skilled staff.
He was responding to a parliamentary question on the backlog of toxicological reports at laboratories currently. Phaahla advised the total number of backlogs at forensic labs stood at 35,776 at labs in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria. Phaahla said there are 2,555 cases older than 10 years while there are 1,749 cases older than nine years, 2,158 older than eight years, 3,391 cases older than five years and 11,948 cases older than a year. He explained that the backlogs were caused by old laboratory equipment that constantly broke down, insufficient goods and services, delays in procurement and a shortage of skilled staff. "The laboratories have now been transferred from the NDOH (National Department of Health) to the NHLS (National Health Laboratory Service), given the efficiency of the NHLS as a specialised laboratory service. NHLS is leveraging its resources and expertise to turn things around and strives to address the backlog,” Phaahla reported. The NHLS will explore the possibility of a public private partnership. In 2021, the FF+ raised concerns over the country's toxicology backlog. It pointed out that the large number of outstanding reports meant that there was a real possibility that many drunk drivers would get away without being prosecuted, such as those whose reports have still not been issued for a decade or more.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Se-Anne Rall at IOL
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