NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO. 1069
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 25 March 2011
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 9)
Mr D A Kganare (Cope) to ask the Minister of Health:
(1) Whether the National Health Laboratory Service has experienced, or is
experiencing, backlogs which are affecting the provision of services
to other departments; if so, what type of backlogs;
(2) (a) what has his department done, or does it intend doing, to ensure
that these backlogs are alleviated, (b) how long is the action
expected to take and (c) how much will it cost?
NW1189E
REPLY:
1) The NHLS does experience backlogs at specific laboratories from time
to time like any other diagnostic laboratory. This may arise from
equipment or IT down time or absenteeism.
The specific area where the NHLS has challenges is Cytology.
Cytotechnology is a very scarce skill.
2) (a) When backlogs arise the NHLS generally diverts specimen to
other NHLS laboratories in the vicinity to ensure that turn-
around times are not compromised. In addition from time to time
small amount of histology specimens are sent to a Private
laboratory due to shortages in pathologists.
(b) It is expected that the NHLS will not have backlogs when the
next batch of pathologists qualify in June 2011.
To respond to the increased demand in Cytology services and to
maintain an acceptable turn-around time the NHLS is testing a
new more automated cytology platform called Liquid Based
Cytology.
(c) The NHLS currently spends about R250,000 per month to clear
backlogs.
END.