Chatra: To streamline postmortem procedures at Sadar hospital in Chatra, the district administration has decided to deploy separate personnel for male and female bodies. The move comes in the wake of a probe into allegations of money being taken for autopsy earlier this week, with the inquiry committee finding that lack of resources was a key reason.Chatra SDO Jahoor Alam, who headed the committee, told TOI that investigation revealed that the lone postmortem worker Sukhdev Ram had taken money to meet procedural expenses and not for personal gain. “Ram, however, should have informed hospital management about such costs,” he said.Ram was replaced by another staff Mamta Devi. However, the administration has decided to reinstate him along with Mamta.“Families are often reluctant to allow postmortem by a person of the opposite gender.
To address the issue, both will now be assigned duties,” Alam said. “Under the new arrangement, Mamta will assist in conducting postmortem of female bodies, while Ram will handle male bodies,” he added.Alam said that to mitigate resource gaps, postmortem staff will soon be provided kits including PPE, surgical blades and other essentials. “Around 35 postmortem examination are conducted every month in the hospital and kits will be supplied accordingly to ensure such issues do not recur,” he said.
