Outsourced cancer tests cost NHLS R18 million a month, says minister

HEALTH Minister Aaron Motsoal-edi said building the capacity of the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) in terms of staff and equipment was more cost-effective than outsoure-ing tests to private laboratories.

- MAYIBONGWE MAGHINA [e-mail]

Motsoaledi said while it was financially advantageous for the NHLS to in-source, such a move required sufficient budget and cash flow to compete with the higher salaries of private laboratories and high-cost equipment.

“This requires additional funding either through increased fees or an allocation from the National Treasury,” he said. Motsoaledi was responding to parliamentary questions by DA MP Michele Clarke about the NHLS partnering with private sector company, PathCare, to tackle the delays in cancer testing at its Johannesburg facility.

According to Motsoaledi, the provincial Health departments are under severe financial strain.

“So an additional increase in fees will not be accepted by provinces and is likely to result in accruals. The National Treasury has been reducing health budgets and has not been accepting bids for budget increases,” he said.

Clarke asked Motsoaledi about the vacancies at each NHLS facility and the specific equipment shortages, including but not limited to outdated and broken equipment, and the necessary materials needed to process samples.