EASTERN CAPE – For rural patients in the Eastern Cape, getting accurate lab results often meant waiting days, sometimes weeks, while samples were sent to other provinces.
That is about to change, thanks to Dr Phathiswa Sifuba-Makapela, who has just become the province’s first locally trained chemical pathology specialist.
The National Health Laboratory Service announced the milestone on 4 May 2026, calling it a major breakthrough for medical training and healthcare delivery in the region. Dr Sifuba-Makapela completed her qualification through Walter Sisulu University and the National Health Laboratory Service, marking a historic first for the Eastern Cape.
The journey may be long and challenging, but with resilience, hard work, and support, it is possible to achieve your goals.
Her journey to this point is as inspiring as the achievement itself. Dr Sifuba-Makapela grew up in Ngqamakhwe and completed her early education in the rural Eastern Cape. She went on to earn a science degree at the then University of Transkei, now known as Walter Sisulu University.
Before entering the medical field, she spent six years in the classroom as a teacher — an experience she says shaped her commitment to serving underserved communities. Later, she pursued her medical degree and began her specialist training in Pretoria. She returned home to complete the final stages of her qualification at the Nelson Mandela Academic Laboratory and Walter Sisulu University.
For Dr Sifuba-Makapela, the achievement is about more than personal success. It is proof that world-class specialist training can happen right here in the Eastern Cape.
“For many years, doctors from rural and under-resourced areas have had to leave the province to complete specialist training,” she said. “This shows that we can build local skills and bring better services directly to the people who need them most.”
Her passion for laboratory medicine began during medical school, when she saw firsthand how timely and accurate test results influence treatment decisions. Now, she wants to strengthen laboratory systems across the province and mentor the next generation of specialists. “Every result belongs to a patient who depends on timely and accurate answers,” she said. “Working with rural communities has taught me that correct diagnostics can literally change lives.”
Dr Sifuba-Makapela hopes her story encourages young people from rural areas to pursue careers in medicine and science, no matter the obstacles. “The journey may be long and challenging, but with resilience, hard work, and support, it is possible to achieve your goals,” she said.
Her work is expected to improve diagnostic capacity in rural clinics and hospitals, giving local doctors faster access to results and helping patients receive treatment sooner.
