Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The state government is set to establish a dedicated call centre for transporting dead bodies, complete with a special toll-free number similar to the ‘108’ ambulance service. This initiative aims to streamline the process and provide a convenient, timely, and efficient way to transport bodies from hospitals to their destinations. A meeting chaired by the Health Secretary marked the beginning of this project, where initial discussions were held on implementing the system. The call centre will facilitate better coordination between hospital authorities and the patient’s family to ensure seamless transportation.
The Health Secretary has asked for information on each district’s yearly death rate and the number of cars needed for transportation in order to guide the plan. The rate per kilometer for carrying dead bodies—especially those who pass away in government hospitals—will be the subject of future negotiations.
