This is in response to media statements on the delay in post mortems highlighted in one of the dailies recently
Forensic Pathology services come under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence
General pathology service remain under the Ministry of Health
Since the morgue and dissection rooms remain in the medical establishments, the forensic pathologist uses the services of the body storage, dissection and tissue examination in the premises
The recent case of a delay in post mortem is not due to Ministry of Health not being able to provide a general pathologist but the unavailability of a forensic pathologist
Medical legal cases demand a degree of independence and the forensic pathology services provide that through their own pathology personnel
Ministry of Health is concerned that such delays can and do occur but in this case the delay was not due to the non – availability of the ministry’s personnel
We regret inconvenience to the bereaved family.
-End-