DDC SUBMITS 14 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING DELHI GOVT HOSPITALS

Report submitted to Chief Minister after think-tank conducted survey on government hospitals

NEW DELHI: To improve the standard of Delhi government hospitals so as to match that of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the country’s premier healthcare institution, the Delhi Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC) has submitted 14 recommendations to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The government think-tank conducted a survey of Delhi government hospitals and found various lags and shortcomings, including GB Pant Hospital and LNJP Hospital

“The current state of computerisation at GB Pant and LNJP is unsatisfactory and so far, the approach to computerise and automate the patient management systems has been ad-hoc and fragmented,” noted the report by DDC.

A major recommendation in the DDC report is “immediate implementation of the ‘e-hospital @NIC’ project devised by the National Informatics Centre in all Delhi government-run hospitals, dispensaries, and mohalla clinics.” This will change the whole system, the report added.

Among other important recommendations, the report noted that a centralised call centre would be helpful to develop hospitals.

“We also recommend setting up a centralised helpline and a call centre to supplement the ORS (online registration system). The helpline will cater to patients looking for guidance in identifying the right medical facility and securing a doctor’s appointment.

“Once the patient calls the helpline and requests for an OPD registration, the helpline operator will enter the patient’s data in the system to give a confirmed appointment at the suitable hospital,” noted the report.

It also recommended installing a telemedicine facility at both GB Pant and LNJP hospitals, especially to give consultation to follow-up patients. The report also stated that the use of mohalla clinics for dispensing medicines for long-term patients, who rush to hospitals only to collect medicines, will be helpful.

“At a given time, referral hospitals have around 40 per cent of those who come on a regular basis just to renew their prescription and collect medicines. The proposed call centre could help patients locate nearby mohalla clinic that will be authorised to dispense medicines prescribed by the doctors at big hospitals,” the report observed.

The DDC also noticed scarcity of chambers for doctors, forcing multiple doctors to sit in one chamber leading to chaos and disarray.

“We recommend adding to consultancy rooms with basic amenities for doctors to optimise their services,” it said.

The think-tank also said that redesigning of OPD counters is much needed.

“A patient sometimes accompanied by a number of attendants, making it look even more congested. Frequent fights erupt and there is chaos overall. The DDC team noticed crowding of family members outside the susceptible zones like operation theatres, intensive care units, critical care units, burn wards, CT and radiology test areas.

“Many family members of patients stay in the hospital’s premises, resulting in littering and indiscipline,” noted the report.