Forensic expert, Class IV employee handling mortuary

Tribune News Service

Manav Mander

Ludhiana, December 12

Daily 6-10 autopsies are conducted at the Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, but it lacks adequate staff and the only forensic expert is forced to manage the entire work single-handedly. There is only one forensic expert and a Class IV employee (on deputation), who are running the affairs of the mortuary.

On an average six to 10 autopsies are done every day and this year, these have already crossed the 3,000 mark. The mortuary at the hospital, besides handling cases coming to them, attends cases referred to them from Dehlon, Raikot and Sudhar and autopsies of a few cases such as murder from Jagraon, Samrala and Khanna. In addition to this, post-mortem cases from both medical colleges, the DMCH and CMCH, which get patients from neighbouring states such as Haryana, Himachal and Jammu, are also referred here since they did not have autopsy rights.

“The mortuary at the Civil Hospital is at present overloaded with work and I am the only forensic expert handling the entire work here. We are getting cases from peripheral areas and nearly five cases from medical colleges in a week. On an average, I am doing 50 autopsies in a week,” said Dr Charankamal Singh, forensic expert at the hospital.

He said he was working for seven days, from 9 am to 5 pm. Though the neighbouring state of Haryana was giving Rs 1,000 per autopsy, no such compensation is given in Punjab. The government had announced Rs 50 per body for safai sewaks five years ago but they had failed to receive it so far. The Class IV employee is entirely managing the work of shifting the body, cleaning the body, vicera management, etc.

According to the recommendation of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, for initial 100 autopsies per year, the mortuary requires specialists, medical officers, technicians, post-mortem assistants, clerks, steno/data entry operators, chowkidars, peon and morgue attendants. For every additional 100 autopsies, additional staff are recommended.

Ludhiana Civil Surgeon Hitinder Kaur said they had already written to the higher authorities for more staff.

About The Author

Tribune News Service

The Tribune News Service brings you the latest news, analysis and insights from the region, India and around the world. Follow the Tribune News Service for a wide-ranging coverage of events as they unfold, with perspective and clarity.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.