RSCM morgue runs out of cooling unit

RSCM morgue runs out of cooling unit

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

With a turnover of 400 bodies monthly, the fact that only three
out of seven body refrigerators in Cipto Mangunkusumo General
Hospital's morgue in Central Jakarta, are working, could be
problematic.

"Only 13 bodies can be stored in the functioning units," said
morgue administrator Mardyono. "If all seven units worked, we
could handle 24 bodies."

Each cooling unit is equipped with three or four cabinets to
store bodies.

The hospital's morgue processes about 12 bodies a day on
average.

Most bodies are claimed by family members on the same day that
they are taken to the morgue. However, some are stored for
between three and seven days.

When no one claims a body, it can be held at the morgue for up
to two weeks, depending on whether or not a police investigation
is taking place.

According to Mardyono, due to the quick turnover of bodies, it
is rare for all the storage cabinets to be used at once.

"However, there are one or two days in the month when we do
reach full capacity," said Mardyono, who has worked at the morgue
for over 20 years.

"At that point, we have no other choice but to leave some
bodies outside, exposed to the open air," said Mardyono. "So, it
is a critical problem."

RSCM director Merdias Almatsier confirmed that the three units
were broken.

"It obviously disrupts operations," said Merdias. "A proposal
to repair the refrigerators has been submitted to the board of
directors."

"One refrigerator is beyond repair, but the other two can be
fixed," explained Merdias. "It will be tough to come up with the
funds to replace it."

Merdias, who is also a medical doctor, added that two of the
units were purchased with money from the Jakarta administration.
In December 1999, the city contributed Rp 400 million (US$
44,400) for the renovation of the morgue, which processes most of
the bodies of people who have died in the city.

The two refrigerators purchased with city funds hold four
bodies each. One has been broken for approximately three months
and the other for over a year.

The third refrigerator, with a capacity of three bodies, has
been used for over 10 years and frequently breaks down, according
to Mardyono.

RSCM is one of 13 state-owned hospitals that are required by
Law 19/2003 on state-owned enterprises to change its legal status
to a corporation by June 19, 2005.

Currently RSCM is a state-owned public facility under the
control of the Ministry of Health, the Office of the State
Minister of State Enterprises and the Ministry of Finance. (002)