Once operational, the laboratory will allow healthcare professionals to practise procedures including endoscopy, laparoscopy, ophthalmic, orthopaedic, renal, and gynaecological surgeries, alongside knee replacements and robotic surgery, using cadavers. Unlike dry laboratories where trainees practise using artificial models, wet laboratories provide hands-on training with human bodies.
The proposed bioskills laboratory will form part of KEM Hospital’s virtual autopsy centre, which is also under development. Instead of traditionally embalmed frozen bodies, KEM Hospital plans to use fresh frozen cadavers. Dr Harish Pathak, Dean of KEM Hospital and Head of its Forensic Science Department, explained that traditional frozen cadavers can become dark and hard, with their natural contours altered, which can affect the surgical training experience. Fresh frozen cadavers are therefore expected to provide a more realistic learning environment and help doctors develop practical surgical skills.
The bioskills laboratory is part of the redevelopment and upgradation of KEM Hospital’s post-mortem centre, where the existing facility will be replaced by a five-storey prefabricated building spread across 20,000 sq. ft. The hospital has floated tenders for the ₹17-crore project, which is expected to be completed within the next 11 months. While medical students currently learn through cadaver-based training, the hospital does not have a dedicated facility for this purpose, and the proposed laboratory will provide a specialised space equipped for practical surgical education.
To develop the bioskills laboratory, the hospital is considering a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, though it has yet to finalise the structure and extent of private-sector participation. Currently, many private hospitals send doctors to countries such as Singapore, Thailand, and Dubai for mid-career surgical training. KEM Hospital aims to provide similar training opportunities in India at more affordable costs. Dr Pathak highlighted that a PPP model could help make the facility sustainable while allowing private hospitals to recommend doctors for specialised training programmes.
The proposed building will also feature a storage capacity for approximately 40 cadavers at a time. Mumbai receives around 1,000 cadavers annually, primarily from unclaimed bodies, which are used for medical education or subsequently buried or cremated.
Alongside the bioskills laboratory, KEM Hospital is developing a virtual autopsy facility that will use advanced imaging and 3D body scans. This technology will allow doctors to preserve anatomical evidence for future reference, research, and training, with digital records supporting medical education by providing data for studying human anatomy and forensic cases. As reported by Hindustan Times, the proposed facility aims to strengthen practical medical education and expand access to advanced surgical training in India, reducing dependence on overseas training programmes while creating new opportunities for medical professionals to enhance their surgical skills.
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