Huge shortage of bodies for medical study

Huge shortage of bodies for medical study

Sangamesh.Menasinakai@timesgroup.com

Hubballi:16.06.2021 

Medical Council of India (MCI) norms state 10 MBBS students should have access to one cadaver to dissect and study, but authorities say the ratio has fallen to one cadaver for every 25 students as body donations have been hit due to the pandemic.

Authorities fear that if the trend prevails, there won’t be any cadavers for students next year. The overarching fear is spread of the cornonavirus through cadavers, but experts say ICMR or the government should draw up guidelines so that donations can resume.

Dr Mahantesh Ramannavar, anatomy lecturer and founder of Dr Ramannavar Charitable Trust that spread awareness on cadaver donations, said he was disappointed as 52 pledged bodies could not be donated in North Karnataka since last year.

“Not a single cadaver was accepted in any government or private medical college in the state due to the pandemic,” Dr Ramannavar said. “Only some private medical colleges accepted a few bodies when the first wave receded. ICMR and WHO have suggested not to embalm Covid bodies. But most colleges have extended that caution to non-covid bodies too.”

Dr AS Nagalikar, assistant professor, anatomy department, BIMS, Belagavi, said bodies can’t be taken for dissection without proper safety measures. “State-run medical college mortuaries are under stress since deaths have increased. A dedicated cold storage is needed for 4-6 bodies. Despite bodies being asymptomatic, chances of infectivity are high. So, RTPCR tests must be conducted before handing over the body to the anatomy department.”