Hospitals cannot hold bodies over unpaid bills: Punjab Govt
Punjab Issues Order to Ensure Release of Dead Bodies Without Delay
Chandigarh: The Punjab government has directed all government and private hospitals, nursing homes and clinical establishments not to withhold dead bodies over non-payment of hospital bills or any other pending dues, in a move aimed at protecting human rights and preserving the dignity of the deceased.
The directive was issued by the Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, in compliance with the guidelines of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC).
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According to the order, all healthcare institutions have been instructed to release dead bodies without delay, irrespective of any outstanding financial dues. The department has reiterated that retaining a deceased person’s body under such circumstances is strictly prohibited.
Hospitals have also been instructed to prominently display notices in Punjabi, Hindi, and English at casualty wards, mortuaries, and reception areas. The notices must clearly state that bodies will not be withheld due to pending payments and should also provide information on how grievances can be reported through the state health helpline number 104.
In addition, the health department has sought immediate compliance reports from institutions regarding mortuary cold-chain management and electrical safety measures. Earlier directives had already mandated strict adherence to cold-chain protocols, appointment of electrical nodal officers, and installation of digital temperature alert systems in mortuaries.
As part of efforts to improve medico-legal services, the department announced that training and orientation programmes would be conducted for medical officers on medico-legal reporting, sampling protocols, and the proper handling and management of dead bodies. The programmes, carrying Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits, are proposed to be conducted within the next 90 days, reports TOI.
Furthermore, all medical institutions have been instructed to issue medico-legal and post-mortem reports exclusively through the digital MedLEaPR portal. The issuance of handwritten or unofficial medico-legal documents has been strictly prohibited.
The measures aim to improve transparency, strengthen medico-legal systems, and ensure dignity in the handling of the deceased across healthcare institutions in the state.
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