UP hosps may soon have evening OPD facility

State in the process of formulating health policy in 100 days, says minister

Hospitals in Uttar Pradesh may soon have evening OPD facility for patients. “We are in the process of formulating a health policy for the state in 100 days. It will have our vision for improvement in healthcare, which includes recruitment of doctors,” said state health minister Siddharthnath Singh while addressing a press conference here on Wednesday.

Hospitals in Uttar Pradesh may soon have evening OPD facility for patients.

“We are in the process of formulating a health policy for the state in 100 days. It will have our vision for improvement in healthcare, which includes recruitment of doctors,” said state health minister Siddharthnath Singh while addressing a press conference here on Wednesday. He said more doctors were required to cater to the increasing number of patients. Evening OPDs would, however, provide relief to patients till the time more doctors are recruited in UP, he added. Citing statistics, Singh said the recruitment of doctors by the UP Public Service Commission had been slow.

The minister said the government would hold talks with private doctors for evening OPDs – a system where doctors are available in hospitals even after routine OPD timings (8 am to 2 pm).

The first evening OPD in Uttar Pradesh was conducted by the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) followed by the King George’s Medical University (KGMU).

Under the system, existing doctors are given incentives for giving more time to patients. This arrangement is a ready answer to shortage of doctors, a situation UP is facing. “About 7,000 additional doctors are required in UP, but this won’t be possible immediately. Therefore, we are planning measures that will be implemented after cabinet approval,” he said. The state health department has made biometric system mandatory for attendance of officials to ensure doctors are available at the hospitals on time.

Apart from evening OPD, Singh also emphasised on the use of telemedicine. “This will be done with a team of doctors at district hospitals. People can call them to seek their advice,” he said. Patients could get medical advice by using such a facility.