Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMS) and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, Delhi, started the state of art Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology on October 21, 2022. The department was inaugurated by Dr Atul Goel, DGHS in presence of RML hospital director and MS Prof Nandini Duggal.

The starting of the department, which was delayed due to the COVID19 pandemic, will pave the way for the MBBS students to learn forensic medicine.

“The department has opened for teaching purposes and provides all the basic facilities of learning for MBBS students,” said Prof Yogesh Tyagi, HoD, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at ABVIMS-RML, said while speaking to Drug Today Medical Times.

“It is the first time the department has been set up here (RML hospital). Earlier, we had only a mortuary but we did not have this department for teaching,” he added.

 “There is no deficiency of manpower here and all the staff is deputed as per the guidelines of the National Medical Commission,” Prof Tyagi added.

The journey of the Department of Forensic Medicine started in the year 2019, but construction of this floor was delayed due to various factors including the COVID pandemic and frequent restrictions imposed by the pollution control board.

“Despite all these challenges, with cooperation from the administration, we were able to complete the construction of the department, procurement of the laboratory instruments, museum artefacts etc,” Prof Tyagi said.

Prof Tyagi informed that the department is conducting more than 1,000 autopsies which are much more than the number conducted by LNJP and LHMC.