Dispose bodies from morgues
ten days after admission: Dy CM
TEAM GOAN NETOWRK
PANAJI
The State Government on Monday directed the Goa Police and Goa Medical College and Hospital (Bambolim) to dispose of unclaimed bodies lying in the morgues ten days after their admission, while at the same time get rid of unclaimed bodies, including those of foreigners, which have have been there for a long time.
Deputy Chief Minister, who is also the Health Minister, Francis D'Souza, held a meeting with GMC officials, including Dean Dr Pradeep Naik, Medical Superintendent Sunanda Amonkar, and police officials to discuss the issue.
D'Souza said he has asked the officials to follow the Anatomy Act so as to dispose of the unclaimed bodies, 10 days after they are admitted in the morgue after getting a clearance from the district magistrate.
He said that the capacity of the morgues is limited and hence the unclaimed bodies need to be disposed of on a regular basis.
Presently, there are around 25 unclaimed bodies at GMC’s morgues, which include a German and three Russian nationals. Some of the bodies have not been claimed for over three years. Majority of the bodies are of migrant labourers and beggars found on roadsides.
The Health Minister said, “As far as the foreigners' bodies are concerned, we have written to the respective embassies, but these failed to respond.”
Meanwhile, South Goa SP Shekhar Parbhudesai informed that there are about 19 unclaimed bodies in the South.
“We have already given necessary NOCs to Ponda and Margao municipalities for their disposal at the earliest”, he said.
