The Health Sector Delivery Agreement aims to reduce infant and maternal mortality rate, reduce child mortality to 30-40 per 1000 births over the medium term and also make further progress in preventing and controlling HIV/AIDS. However, the mid term report of the Department of Health indicated that severe staff shortages in forensic chemistry laboratories have led to backlogs and targets not being met in this regard. Furthermore the Department acknowledged that the delays in the filling of vacant posts in the National Department of Health have lowered the accreditation process, though the audits tools have been completed and piloted. However the Department must have a programme in place to respond to this challenge as well as to meet the targets and Millennium Development Goals by 2014.