Gauteng has a backlog of 14 317 toxicology cases and 7 245 histopathology cases, dating back to 2007, the Forensic Medical Services (FMS) indaba in Johannesburg heard last week.
Addressing the indaba, MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said the province had a huge backlog in FMS, due to delays with the processing of unidentified and unclaimed bodies in state mortuaries, and the delayed finalisation of post-mortem reports.
Strategies would be explored to reduce the backlog and improve workflow, and to increase capacity where necessary, she said, adding that the department recently acquired 17 response vehicles to expedite services to Forensic Pathology Services (FPS), 10 of them being Mercedes-Benz Sprinter combis that can accommodate up to six bodies each.
The impact
“The increasing backlogs, especially with unidentified and unclaimed bodies, pose significant challenges, not only affecting the timely resolution of the cases but also the families awaiting closure,” she said.
"And there is additional strain on staff, who manage an increasing workload with limited resources.”
The backlog could also hinder the accurate tracking of mortality trends and affect the allocation of resources.
Last year, the department had more than 900 unclaimed bodies in state mortuaries.
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