North Okkalapa Hospital morgue staff reprimanded after being criticized on social media

From a video file circulating on social media, showing a conversation between a morgue staff member at North Okkalapa Hospital and the family of a deceased person regarding the retrieval of the body. A morgue staff member at North Okkalapa Hospital in Yangon, who allegedly pressured the family of the deceased in various ways when they came to claim the body, has been reprimanded, a source close to the hospital told Mizzima this afternoon. (Wan Ran Moo Social Aid Association) Yangon, Laynyin (June 3) Mizzima. A morgue staff member at North Okkalapa Hospital in Yangon, who was seen in a video file pressuring the family of the deceased in various ways, has been reprimanded, a source close to the hospital revealed. "I learned that the male staff member from the morgue shown in the video file has been transferred as a disciplinary action. I do not know which department he has been transferred to," a source close to the hospital told Mizzima this afternoon (June 3). Mizzima contacted North Okkalapa Hospital by phone to inquire about the details of the disciplinary action, but has not yet received a response. On the evening of May 30, a woman who was involved in a traffic accident in Dagon Township North was transported to North Okkalapa Hospital by the Wan Ran Moo Social Aid Association, but she died due to severe injuries. Subsequently, the family of the patient and officials from the Wan Ran Moo Social Aid Association went to the North Okkalapa Hospital morgue to retrieve the deceased's body, and there were verbal exchanges with the male morgue staff member. The incident was shared on the social media page of an official from the Wan Ran Moo Social Aid Association with the caption, "Despite the whole country sympathizing, the North Okkalapa Hospital morgue operates with a 'whoever dies, I'm fine' attitude," along with the video file of the conversation. The video file showed the family of the deceased explaining that they had sought recommendation letters from various relevant departments as instructed by the morgue staff member, but were told that the body could not be released due to incomplete documentation required for retrieval. Later, on June 1, the patient's family and the Wan Ran Moo Social Aid Association completed the necessary paperwork as instructed by the morgue staff member, allowing them to retrieve the body and proceed with the funeral. The video file became a topic of discussion on social media, with many who had experienced similar situations commenting on the treatment of families and the financial demands at morgues. "When everyone is grieving, if they (the morgue) don't get what they want, they create problems like this. Incidents like the one in the viral video are common on the ground. The main goal is to extort money. If you can pay, you can get the body released with just a ward recommendation letter," said a Yangon resident who had a similar experience. Regarding the treatment of families by morgue staff, an official from a Mandalay-based social aid association commented, "The job of a morgue attendant is not something everyone can do, as it involves handling deceased bodies. Those who have been doing this job for a long time pass it on to someone they know. Hospital officials are aware of these incidents. However, if they don't do it, who will? For these reasons, there are cases where hospital authorities are aware of the actions of morgue staff but turn a blind eye." Regarding the incident at the North Okkalapa Hospital morgue, the Deputy Medical Superintendent's group and social aid associations held a meeting this morning and were able to engage in constructive discussions, according to a statement posted on the social media page of an official from the Wan Ran Moo Social Aid Association.