UZ able to train cancer diagnosers - Deputy minister

Deputy Minister of health and Child care Aldrin Musiiwa has told parliament that the University of Zimbabwe is capable of training Histopathologists who among other things are the experts who diagonose Cancer.

Musiiwa said pathologists specialise in different sub-specialties such as Forensic Pathology, Histopathology, Hematology, Microbiology, Chemical Pathology and Transfusion Medicine.  

"The University of Zimbabwe is able to train Histopathologists who among other things are the experts who diagonose Cancer. There are two Histopathologists in Bulawayo, one based at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) and the second one based at Mpilo Central Hospital," Musiiwa said.

"These two cover the five provinces of Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Bulawayo, Midlands and Masvingo. Harare has three Histopathologists who are based at Parirenyatwa Hospital and are responsible for training and service for the other five provinces of Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West and Harare. While they can also handle minor forensic cases, the major ones such as murder and decomposed bodies require the expertise of a Forensic Pathologist."

Musiiwa said training is not yet locally available for the other sub-specialties. However, there is one Hematologist based at Mpilo Central Hospital and four in Harare who are lecturers with the University of Zimbabwe. The deputy minister said they are planning to commence post graduate training as well.

"The major challenge is the shortage of Forensic Pathologists and since 1980, the nation has relied on expatriates from India, Tanzania, Nigeria and now Cuba. We currently have three Cuban Forensic Pathologists in the service with two based in Bulawayo and one based in Harare," Musiiwa said.

"The nature of Forensic pathology is that it is a medico-legal specialty and the Pathologists have to testify in court on very contentious life and death cases such as murder. Zimbabwe's legal system is adversarial in nature and the atmosphere in courts is very hostile. The outcome of that hostile due process is that none of the Zimbabwean Doctors have chosen Forensic Pathology for a career. Other jurisdictions have protected their forensic experts by creating the office of a Coroner who then creates a buffer between the Forensic experts and the courts."

The deputy minister said consultations between the Ministry of Health and Child Care, and the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs have been conducted over the last two decades.

"Cabinet then approved the enactment of a Coroner's legislation to be spearheaded by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs in July 2014. As Ministry of Health and Child Care, we were promised by the Office of the Attorney General that the draft Coroner's Bill would be ready for consultations by the end of December 2015. However, that did not materialise and we are still waiting," Musiiwa said.

"Some of our doctors have expressed interest in taking up Forensic specialty and we have linked them with the University of Natal in South Africa since we do not have local training in Zimbabwe. However, that also is a futile exercise unless they are covered by the Coroner and we urge Parliament to assist in expediting the passing of the Coroner's Bill."