Kalwa hosp to extend post-mortem hours

THANE: Relatives of the deceased will no longer have to wait long hours to claim bodies as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Hospital in Kalwa will extend its post-mortem hours. TMC officials said within a month, post-mortems would be done at the hospital from 11am to 10pm.

The post- mortem timing at the hospital is 11.30am to 5.30pm.

The directives were issued by the standing committee of the health department. A medical officer has been assigned by the hospital ease out matters.

Every year, more than 500 post- mortems are carried out at the hospital. People not only from Thane city, but from all over the district visit the hospital for treatment.

The standing committee members said most hospitals in Mumbai have round-the-clock-post mortem facility. They added that owing to the restricted timing, relatives of the deceased have to wait all night for the post mortem to be done the next morning.

Umesh Patil, Sena corporator, said, “People who die in accidents or any other reason are brought for post mortem either in Kalwa or Thane Civil Hospital. Owing to the time limit, family or relatives of the deceased are forced to spend the night at the hospital to claim the body. These timings should be extended till 10pm.”

He had also tabled a calling attention motion in the general body in the year 2008, however, there was no response from the corporation.

C Maitra, the dean of Kalwa hospital said, “In the civil hospital, the post-mortem is done by the chief medical officer himself. There is no such provision in Kalwa hospital, thus we will need a dedicated medical officer for doing post mortem. The post of cutter is also vacant for many years which need to be filled. The hospital can increase the post mortem hours only after fulfilling these requirements.”

Sanjay Waghule, chairman of standing committee added that post mortem is carried out for 24 hours in JJ Hospital. “Similar facility should be provided in Kalwa Hospital. The civic administration should fulfill the above requirements and increase the post mortem hours.”