Post-mortem report backlog nears 11 000

The Gauteng health department has revealed there is currently a backlog of over 10 900 post-mortem reports in the province and that it is working around the clock to decrease this.

The department said the turnaround time for conducting and producing a post-mortem report varied. It could take between 60-90 minutes to be conducted, while reports could take between four to six weeks per case.

Spokesperson Kwara Kekana said this was due to the complex nature of a post-mortem.

“Investigations take place in various divisions. The biochemistry tests for blood and toxicology are conducted at forensic chemistry laboratories, whereas the post-mortem is conducted at forensic pathology laboratories.

“Different circumstances in these divisions determine the time it takes to complete a post-mortem report.

“And also the nature of each case plays a part in turnaround times,” Kekana said.

She said while a single stab wound report may take a shorter time to complete than a multiple gunshot death case report, multiple gunshot wounds, which are prevalent is some areas of the province, contribute immensely to backlogs.

“There is currently a backlog of over 10 900 post-mortem reports in the province. And of those 2 308 are at forensic chemistry laboratories and the rest at the forensic pathology laboratories.

“The filling of all funded posts as and when they become vacant is prioritised to ensure that facilities have adequate human resource personnel to carry out the work.”

The department said its forensic pathology services works very closely with the South African Police Services and the justice department in carrying out its work.

“The forensic pathology services’ primary objective is to render medico-legal investigations of deaths that serves the judicial process.

“The teams adhere to a standardised, uniform protocols and procedures which are set out nationally in order to ensure objective, impartial, and scientifically accurate results,” the department said.