12 Apr 2010

Fiji to charge for longer stays in morgue

1:43 pm on 12 April 2010

Residents in Fiji will now be charged a fee for keeping the bodies of families members in the morgue for more than three days.

The Ministry of Health has introduced the new fee.

Its spokesperson Iliesa Tora told the Fiji Village that overcrowding in the morgue has been a major issue and it is an unhealthy practice.

Mr Tora says the fees will be charged in order to allow people to keep the morgue available for those who need it.

He says when a relative is in a critical condition in hospital families should begin preparations in case the person passes away, and make an allowance for the 3 day time limit.

Mr Tora says the 4th and 5th day in the morgue will attract a fee of just over 8 US dollars rising to 13 dollars for subsequent days.