MEDICINE FACULTY LAUNCHES ANATOMICAL PATHOLOGY REGISTRAR PROGRAMME

The shortage of anatomical pathologists in the Eastern Cape (EC) has long been a barrier to effective healthcare, particularly in diagnosing and managing diseases such as cancer.

WSU’s Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences has launched a fully accredited Anatomical Pathology registrar training programme to fill the gap in specialist care and bring lasting improvements to healthcare systems across the region.

“South Africa just like any other country is grappling with the shortage of specialists of various disciplines and Anatomical pathology is not an exception. Therefore, instead of waiting forever for a pathologist to come to Mthatha, WSU decided to start up the programme to train Pathologists to fill the vacuum,” said the head of the registrar programme Dr. Samuel Likumbo.

In line with the faculty’s vision of training highly skilled professionals responsive to the community's healthcare needs, the program aims to strengthen local healthcare services by creating a skilled workforce that can deliver essential diagnostic services, improving healthcare access and outcomes in these communities.

“The goal of the programme is to train and produce well-qualified Anatomical Pathologists (Specialists) equipped with knowledge of the basic principles of pathology, including molecular pathology, autopsy pathology, and laboratory management,” said Likumbo

He asserts that the long-term objective is to ensure that EC gets quality health service delivery in terms of diagnosis of disease conditions, cancer screening, and early diagnosis, ultimately leading to early and timely intervention.

Likumbo noted that the programme has already improved turnaround times for diagnostic specimen testing, with 90% of tests now conducted at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital.

With two registrars in training, WSU expects to graduate its first specialists by 2028, further enhancing local diagnostic services.

This progress aligns with the standards set by the Health Professions Council of South Africa, the regulatory body responsible for accrediting health profession programmes.

“The HPCSA accredits both the curriculum and the training platform, providing oversight that ensures our university programmes maintain high-quality standards and remain globally competitive,” explained Executive Dean Prof. Wezile Chitha.

“This five-year accreditation allows WSU’s programmes to be reviewed by peers and ensures that we deliver on our commitment to exceptional training.”

The unit expects to enroll two additional registrars in 2025 or 2026, with its aim grounded in training and graduating specialists not only in South Africa but across the SADC region and beyond.

Already, they are expecting to have a Supernumerary Registrar at the beginning of 2025.

By Ongezwa Sigodi