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)