Civil hospital mortuary in dire state; awaits cold storage facility

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

A cold storage facility is essential in a mortuary to preserve bodies after deaths caused by serious illness or accidents. However, the absence of such a facility at the civil hospital mortuary has disrupted the system of storing bodies. As a result, bodies can be kept for only up to 12 hours, creating major difficulties for both relatives and the administration.

The condition of the mortuary at the civil hospital has deteriorated significantly. The situation becomes even more critical during summer. Due to legal procedures, post-mortems, or the time taken for relatives to arrive from distant places, bodies often need to be preserved for longer periods. However, with the 12-hour limitation, families are forced to make hurried decisions.

Administrative neglect?

There appears to be neglect by the administration towards the mortuary, which is a crucial part of the healthcare system. Despite being an essential facility, the issue of setting up a cold storage unit remains pending.

Urgent need for measures

There is an immediate need for a modern cold storage facility, adequate refrigeration units, and regular maintenance in the mortuary. Otherwise, the situation is likely to worsen further.

What should a mortuary have?

Cold storage facility

Adequate refrigeration units

Uninterrupted power supply with backup

Regular maintenance and cleanliness

Trained staff

Demand submitted to DPDC

A proposal has been submitted to the District Planning and Development Committee (DPDC) for setting up cold storage facilities at the civil hospital as well as rural hospitals. There is no shortage of manpower for the mortuary.

— Dr Kamalakar Mudkhedkar, civil surgeon