Cancer patients in Gauteng face life-threatening biopsy delays as Joburg pathology lab struggles with staff shortages and massive backlogs.
By Loxion News Staff Writer
Thousands of cancer patients in Gauteng face a life-threatening crisis as delays in biopsy results at the Johannesburg Anatomical Pathology Laboratory continue to skyrocket. What was once a lifeline for early cancer diagnosis is now a bottleneck causing devastating treatment delays — with some patients waiting months before treatment can even begin.
Joburg Pathology Lab on the Brink
According to the Democratic Alliance’s Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, Dr. Jack Bloom, the Johannesburg laboratory has been crippled by staff shortages, mismanagement, and massive backlogs.
- Patients wait up to three months for urgent cancer biopsy results.
- The lab once had 19 anatomical pathologists — now only three remain.
- Over 12,000 samples are unprocessed, with some dating back to last year.
- Doctors cannot start life-saving treatment without biopsy results.
“The treatment of thousands of cancer patients in Gauteng is threatened,” said Dr. Bloom. “Survival chances plummet when patients wait this long for a diagnosis.”
Longer Wait Times, Higher Risks
Doctors report that breast cancer biopsy results that used to take 7 to 10 days now take 4 to 6 weeks. Results for mastectomies, which previously took three to four weeks, can now take up to three months.
Other affected biopsies include suspected prostate, skin, and organ cancers — leaving patients in a state of fear and uncertainty.
Medical experts warn that every delay dramatically reduces the chances of successful treatment, especially in aggressive cancers where early intervention is key.
Mismanagement and Staff Exodus
Insiders blame the crisis on leadership issues at the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS), which oversees the facility. The lab is headed by Dr. Reubina Wadee, whose management style allegedly led to the departure of highly qualified staff.
Critics also point out that the night shift was scrapped, meaning the laboratory no longer operates 24/7 — further worsening the backlog.
“This laboratory services hospitals and clinics across Johannesburg, the East and West Rand, and the Vaal. The scale of the impact is enormous,” said Dr. Bloom.
Calls for Urgent Intervention
The DA in Gauteng has demanded that Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko intervene immediately to restore efficient operations at the lab.
Nationally, DA MP Michele Clarke will raise questions to the Department of Health about the severe backlog and alleged mismanagement.
Civil society has already taken the Gauteng Health Department to court over delays in providing radiation treatment to thousands of patients — a clear sign that the healthcare system is buckling under pressure.
The Bottom Line
This crisis is more than a bureaucratic failure — it is costing lives. Until the biopsy backlog is cleared and staffing levels are restored, cancer patients in Gauteng will continue to face deadly delays.
Loxion News will continue to monitor this developing story and demand accountability from health authorities.
