Andhra Pradesh Sanctions 177 Mortuary Freezer Chambers for Government Hospitals

The Andhra Pradesh coalition government has taken a significant step toward improving healthcare infrastructure by sanctioning 177 mortuary freezer chambers for secondary-level government hospitals across the state. This initiative, valued at ₹6.57 crore, aims to bolster the preservation capabilities of hospital mortuaries, ensuring bodies awaiting post-mortem examinations are handled with dignity and appropriate care.

Enhancing Mortuary Freezer Chambers Across Andhra Pradesh

Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav confirmed that the procurement process focused on providing advanced storage solutions, with each unit costing up to ₹3.71 lakh. These specialized chambers are designed to hold two bodies each, significantly improving the state's capacity to manage medico-legal cases, including deaths resulting from road accidents, suicides, and other unnatural causes. Furthermore, these mortuary freezer chambers will play a critical role in preserving unidentified bodies until the necessary identification procedures are successfully completed.

For some time, several government medical facilities had been struggling with aging or non-functional cooling equipment, which hindered the efficient processing of post-mortem tasks. To rectify these infrastructure deficits, the state government launched this comprehensive project to replace outdated systems. The new equipment is being distributed across 119 community health centres, 49 area hospitals, and eight district-level hospitals throughout the region.

Logistical efforts to deploy this equipment are already well underway. Out of the total 177 mortuary freezer chambers sanctioned by the administration, approximately 150 units have already been dispatched to their respective hospitals. Officials expect the remaining units to be delivered shortly to complete the distribution network. In parallel with this procurement, the government is also undertaking necessary upgrades to existing mortuary rooms to ensure they are adequately equipped to host and operate the new freezer units effectively.

This investment reflects a broader commitment to enhancing basic public health infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh. By modernizing facilities at the secondary hospital level, the government hopes to minimize the challenges faced by medical staff and the families of the deceased. The focus remains on maintaining operational standards that meet the requirements for forensic investigations and humanitarian care in the event of unforeseen fatalities.