NHLS Targets 50% Reduction in Toxicology Backlog by 2025/26

The NHLS revealed that it is currently burdened with a toxicology backlog of 40,051 cases, many of which predate the NHLS’s integration of the Forensic Chemistry Laboratories (FCLs).

The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) has announced a bold, targeted strategy to reduce its toxicology case backlog by 50% by the end of the 2025/26 financial year, addressing longstanding delays that have hampered forensic investigations and justice delivery in South Africa.

This initiative comes in response to mounting public concern and media reports highlighting the backlog crisis. Some toxicology and DNA cases have reportedly remained unresolved for more than 17 years, severely undermining confidence in forensic services.

Scale of the Backlog

The NHLS revealed that it is currently burdened with a toxicology backlog of 40,051 cases, many of which predate the NHLS’s integration of the Forensic Chemistry Laboratories (FCLs). This backlog directly affects forensic pathology services and the criminal justice system, where timely toxicology reports are critical for investigations, court proceedings, and delivering closure to families.

Strategic Measures to Address the Backlog

The NHLS’s comprehensive backlog reduction plan includes a multi-pronged strategy focused on infrastructure, technology, staffing, and workflow reorganisation.

Investment in High-Output Analytical Instruments

New state-of-the-art analytical instruments have been procured for laboratories in Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Cape Town. These machines are dedicated exclusively to backlog cases, ensuring that routine processing of new submissions continues without disruption.

Workforce Expansion

To accelerate processing, the NHLS has hired additional technical staff on fixed-term contracts, specifically tasked with clearing backlog cases. Permanent employees will remain focused on handling routine, ongoing casework to maintain operational stability.

Dedicated Backlog Units

In Johannesburg, the NHLS has acquired new laboratory space to create a separate backlog processing unit. A similar model has been implemented in Pretoria, where separate workflows for new and backlog cases have been established. This parallel system ensures faster turnaround times without compromising quality.

Regional Expansion

The NHLS is also expanding toxicology capacity in KwaZulu-Natal, alongside boosting throughput at its existing Pretoria and Cape Town FCLs. This will help distribute workloads more evenly across regions and strengthen national capacity.

Strengthening Systems and Efficiency

Beyond physical expansion and staffing, the NHLS is introducing systemic improvements to enhance efficiency and reliability:

• Technical Assessments of Equipment: All analytical instruments are undergoing evaluations to identify faulty or outdated systems, which will either be serviced or replaced immediately.

• Shift System and Overtime: A structured shift system with approved overtime has been implemented to increase daily throughput, enabling laboratories to operate more effectively.

• Digital Transformation: The NHLS is transitioning from its Labware Laboratory Information Management System to the more advanced TrakCare platform. This will strengthen data integrity, allow real-time monitoring of case progress, and improve accountability through better management oversight.

Restoring Confidence in Forensic Services

The NHLS acknowledged public frustrations regarding the severe delays in toxicology reporting and emphasized that the organisation is fully committed to stabilising and modernising services.

“By enhancing both capacity and systemic efficiency, the NHLS aims to restore operational effectiveness, strengthen public confidence, and reaffirm its commitment to supporting justice and public health,” the entity said.

Significance of the Initiative

The toxicology backlog crisis has long been seen as a barrier to justice delivery, prolonging criminal investigations and delaying court cases. The NHLS’s new initiative is therefore not just an operational reform but also a critical justice intervention.

With its combined focus on technology upgrades, dedicated backlog units, workforce expansion, and digital modernisation, the NHLS believes it is on track to halve the toxicology backlog within the next financial year and lay the foundation for long-term sustainability in forensic services.

This initiative, if fully successful, could mark a turning point for South Africa’s forensic science system—transforming it from one of the country’s most pressing bottlenecks into a model of efficiency and accountability.