Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) has opened a central mortuary in Al Ain, in cooperation with its strategic partners. The new facility, designed innovatively and equipped with the latest equipment, allows for all services related to deceased bodies to be completed in one location, with approvals being done electronically.
Dr. Marwan Al Kaabi, Acting Group Chief Operations Officer, SEHA, said: “SEHA is committed to delivering services that meet and exceed the highest international standards across all specialties, in line with the vision and directives of the UAE leadership as part of the nation’s drive towards excellence in healthcare. With the launch of this new central mortuary in Al Ain, we look forward to working with our strategic partners to ensure adherence to best-practice and world class care, in consideration of the sensitivity and sanctity of the services provided.”
“Both the central morgues in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain are preparing to launch virtual autopsy, following theimplementation of the latest radiology devices – the first of its kind in the region,” continued Dr. Al Kaabi.
Virtual autopsy allows for non-intrusive human autopsies to be performed using a CT scanner to obtain full, 3D view of the body. Using the latest radiology technologies, medical examiners are able to view and dissect the human body in high definition to examine the state of the blood vessels, organs, bones and tissues, allowing them to determine the cause of death.
Thanks to the extensive technology infrastructure available at SEHA’s central mortuaries, the process of transferring the deceased body with the use of appropriately equippedambulances from the hospital to a central location and/or from the mortuary to the cemetery, crematorium, or airport for transfer to the deceased’s country of origin is streamlined and simplified. This ensures the process for body preparation or burial is completed within a short period of time, not exceeding 30 minutes, and the issuance of required documentation, such as death certificates or the required paperwork for embalming or cremation, is completed within 15 minutes.Additionally, there has been expansion of preservation refrigerators and cleaning services at all the central mortuaries, allowing for a significant increase in capacity.
“The central mortuaries in Abu Dhabi are equipped with the most advanced technologies and equipment and are recognized for their modernization. Equipped with forensic physicians and medical experts who are available round the clock, the mortuaries work in close coordination with the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi Police and the Judicial Department to smoothen the process of body examination and, if required, judicial autopsy,” added Dr Al Kaabi.
“SEHA’s mortuary teams are playing a prominent role by providing continuous services to the families of deceased members, through ongoing coordination with the relevant authorities. The teams work with over 200 nationalities and numerous religions, considering their culture and preferences and ensuring their requirements are met in line with local laws and regulations.”
SEHA’s central mortuaries work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including during holidays and official occasions, to ensure the appropriate preservation and movement of deceased bodies. The mortuaries provide a wide range of services, including local burial and burning, mummification, transportation to the deceased’s country of origin, etc. that are completed within the approved mechanisms and procedures and always under medical supervision. The mortuaries also provide restoration services for bodies that have injuries or wounds with the utmost care and in line with the deceased’s nationality, religion, or belief.
As a result of the work done by SEHA’s mortuaries, the network is able to collect information and statistics with regards to different diseases and the quality and conditions of natural and traumatic deaths, enabling it to contribute to the development of medical policies in the UAE. With information dating back to 1968, SEHA is able to determine the health map of the residents of Abu Dhabi and the wider nation to assist with future planning for the next 50 years and beyond.
