‘Cleanliness at LNJP mortuary often compromised due to shortage of staff’

The harsh reprimand by Delhi High Court which then also led to its continuous monitoring process of the improvement procedures undertaken by the city mortuaries which continues till date have prompted them to revamp themselves. 

The challenge, however, to provide dignity to the dead and at the same time reduce the toll on medical staff still persists.

In a process of revamping itself, the mortuary at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital situated in Maulana Azad Medical Campus is extending its present capacity of storing the dead bodies from 18 to 50. 

Further, the increased capacities will have the process of cabinet systems wherein each cabinet will contain only one body unlike an “open” system where two-three bodies are kept together amidst shortage of space. The “open” system was cited by the High Court as one of the points that devalues the dignity of the deceased.

Being the main mortuary in the  central district, it does not only receive bodies from the nearby 15 police stations but also from GB Pant Hospital and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital respectively. Even as the officials tell Millennium Post  that the mortuary is not facing any space crunch, the staff there have highlighted instances when there is no space for the deceased and there is a major problem faced during emergency situations like a building collapse or a natural calamity. 

Emphasising further on the issue of space crunch, a senior official added: “It takes about two to three hours  for conducting a post-mortem. However, prior to that, the body is kept in cold storage for identification. Sometimes it takes more than five days for the bodies to be identified which then leads to others not getting any space.”

The major issue raised by professionals at the mortuary is the shortage of staff mainly in section 3 to section 4 categories that causes problems like lack of cleanliness in the mortuary and also stitching of the body after post-mortem. Speaking on the issue of shortage of staff, a senior official said: “There is no shortage of doctors as there is a group of seven senior doctors and students from the MAMC available. 

But there is a shortage of section 3 and 4 employees to as much as 70 per cent. It is due to this that the cleanliness at the mortuary is compromised. Lack of cleanliness is a major cause of concern to check presence of rodents.” 

The official mentioned that the issue of staff shortage has been referred to the MedicalSuperintendent of LNJP.