Siliguri Hospital Plans Affordable OPD and Digital Patient Services (Img: X)
Siliguri: Siliguri District Hospital (SDH) is set to introduce a dedicated afternoon outpatient department (OPD), offering consultations at less than half the fees charged by private practitioners in a bid to make medical care more affordable.
State Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh, who is also a member of the hospital’s Rogi Kalyan Samiti, announced the proposal after a meeting at the hospital. A formal proposal has been sent to state Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee for consideration.
The proposed service is expected to provide patients with access to doctors who are no longer practising in the private sector, offering an additional option for those seeking medical advice without paying high consultation fees.
The hospital also plans to maintain patient records and other relevant medical information digitally as part of its efforts to expand technology-driven services. The smart OPD will operate separately after regular outpatient hours, allowing patients to consult doctors at less than half the fees charged by private practitioners.
SDH receives more than 1,500 patients on an average day. The heavy footfall often makes it difficult for patients to secure timely consultations, while the cost of private treatment remains a concern for many families.
Alongside the proposed OPD, the state government is planning a common mobile application for Siliguri District Hospital and North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH).
The application is expected to provide updated information on patient numbers across departments, vacant beds and the availability of blood units by blood group at the blood bank. This would allow patients and their families to check essential information before approaching the hospitals.
The proposed digital platform is also expected to help people assess the availability of hospital services before travelling to the facilities, particularly during emergencies.
The afternoon OPD and the proposed mobile application are intended to improve access to consultations and essential hospital information. The OPD proposal has been forwarded to the state health minister, while further details about the service and the application are awaited.
