Workers protest as KEM staffer’s body is lying in morgue for three days

The body of a class-iv employee of civic-run King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital, Parel has been lying in the morgue of the hospital for the last three days. On Tuesday, when hospital workers protested, the authorities decided to release the body as a suspected Covid victim.

The 45-year-old victim worked at KEM for the last 10 years and was posted in a Covid ward at the hospital. On May 20, he developed a fever and cold. When he informed the doctors, they allegedly did not pay heed and his condition started deteriorating.

“On May 24, he started having trouble breathing and before he could reach the hospital, he died,” said Pradeep Narkar, secretary, Municipal Mazdoor Union.

His family has blamed the hospital for being negligent. “The [preventive] medicines are given to permanent employees. The hospital could have saved him if they treated him on time.”

As hospitals do not run Covid tests on corpses of suspected patients, authorities could not identify if the victim was infected. “The hospital has now decided to release the body as a suspected Covid case,” Narkar said.

Three employees working in the KEM Hospital morgue have also tested positive. “We don’t have insurance as we are not permanent employees of the hospital,” said a hospital worker.

Workers held a protest inside the hospital for five hours between 7am and 12pm on Wednesday demanding better safety measures. Dr Hemant Deshmukh, KEM Hospital dean said, “We have discussed their complaints and listened to their concerns. We will meet their demands to provide a better working environment,” he said.