Assessment of Forensic Toxicology Capabilities in Public Hospitals in Enugu State

Forensic toxicology plays an indispensable role in determining cause of death and establishing substance-related culpability in criminal investigations. This study assesses the institutional capacity for forensic toxicological analysis in three public hospitals in Enugu State, South East Nigeria. A descriptive institutional audit was conducted, involving structured interviews with twelve laboratory scientists, observation of laboratory equipment, and review of fifty toxicology request forms processed between 2021 and 2024. The study evaluates available analytical instruments, staff qualifications, reagent availability, and turnaround times for toxicology reports. Findings reveal significant infrastructural deficits: none of the assessed hospitals possessed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry equipment, and ninety percent of cases requiring advanced toxicological analysis were referred to federal facilities in Abuja or Lagos, resulting in delays averaging forty-two days. Staff capacity was also inadequate, with only two of twelve scientists holding postgraduate qualifications in toxicology. The study concludes that forensic toxicology services in Enugu State remain critically underdeveloped, undermining the quality of medico-legal investigations in the region. Policy recommendations include targeted equipment grants for state hospitals and the integration of forensic toxicology modules into the curricula of medical laboratory science programmes in South East universities. Keywords: forensic toxicology, laboratory capacity, public hospitals, Enugu State, medico-legal.