Virtual autopsy at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital is likely to take some time to commence

The proposed launch of virtual autopsy (virtopsy), an advanced forensic technique, at Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), Kozhikode, is likely to take some time as work in this regard is still ongoing.

According to official sources, one of the members of the forensic medicine department of the hospital recently underwent a month-long training on the subject at the North-Eastern Hill Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong, Meghalaya, which pioneered virtual autopsy in the country.

The ministry has also submitted to the government a detailed list of facilities to be introduced at the hospital, including appointed staff and equipment to be installed. Sources said discussions are also underway with experts from the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi.

The main goals of an autopsy are to determine the cause and manner of death, establish identity, and gather evidence for litigation and investigations. Virtual autopsy protocols are almost identical to classic autopsy protocols, the only difference being the use of advanced imaging instead of invasive dissection. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MRI) technologies are used for this non-invasive procedure, when three-dimensional data of the entire body, or of relevant parts, are created to examine the details. Forensic experts point out, however, that a medico-legal autopsy is always mandatory for suspicious or unnatural deaths.

According to health department sources, none of the government hospitals in Kerala currently follow such a system. AK Unmesh, professor of forensic medicine, submitted a detailed project report (DPR) to the government in December 2025 for setting up a virtual autopsy center at the Government Medical College, Kottayam, where he was then working as the head of the department. DPR said the establishment of such a facility would improve medico-legal services, enhance judicial transparency, reduce stress for families by offering minimally invasive options, and provide permanent digital evidence for appeals and reviews. The plan was to strengthen collaboration between departments such as radiology and forensic medicine and the judiciary and law enforcement. It was also suggested that a digital repository of forensic imaging could be created for evidence and academic research. The total projected capital cost was ₹15.5 million and the annual recurring cost was estimated at ₹2.5 billion.

After the United Democratic Front (UDF) came to power in May this year, Health Minister K. Muraleedharan repeatedly said that the virtual autopsy system would be launched in Kozhikode first.

Published – 26 Oct 2026 19:49 IST