Patna: Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) is preparing to digitise its postmortem reporting process, enabling reports to be delivered online to police stations and investigating officers through a dedicated application named MedLeaper.
The initiative, being implemented by the hospital’s Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (FMT) Department, is aimed at reducing delays in report delivery and improving coordination between medical and law enforcement authorities.
Reports to Be Shared Online
Under the proposed system, doctors will prepare postmortem reports after examinations are completed. Once approved by the department head, the reports will be uploaded to the MedLeaper platform.
The digital system will allow concerned police stations and investigating officers to access reports online within minutes, eliminating the need for repeated visits to the hospital to collect physical copies.
Hospital officials said the platform has been developed under the direction of the Health Department to make the reporting process faster, more transparent, and more efficient.
Existing Process Causes Delays
At present, the FMT Department conducts an average of 10 to 12 postmortem examinations every day. Preparing a report generally takes one to two days.
After the report is ready, police personnel must visit the hospital to collect the hard copy. In many cases, the process of obtaining the report takes an additional two to three days, slowing down investigations.
Officials believe the digital system will significantly reduce these delays and improve the speed of information sharing between departments.
Additional Infrastructure Planned
To support the online reporting system, the FMT Department plans to strengthen its infrastructure. Four new computers are expected to be installed, and additional operators may be appointed to facilitate faster preparation and uploading of reports.
Hospital administrators said the adoption of digital technology would improve operational efficiency while ensuring more organised and secure record management.
Project in Initial Stage
Dr Pankaj Kumar, Head of the FMT Department, said the project is currently in its early phase and will be fully implemented after the required manpower and technical resources are made available.
He said the online system would make the entire process of preparing, transmitting, and accessing postmortem reports more convenient and transparent.
Expected Benefits for Investigations
Experts note that postmortem reports are critical documents in criminal investigations and cases involving suspicious deaths. Faster availability of these reports can help accelerate police investigations and support quicker case disposal.
The digital platform is also expected to improve record preservation and ensure easier retrieval of reports whenever required in the future.
PMCH’s initiative is being seen as a significant step towards the digitisation of healthcare administration and forensic services in Bihar. Officials expect the move to strengthen coordination between hospitals and law enforcement agencies while indirectly benefiting the public through faster investigative processes.
