Ministry junks proposal to extend OPD timings

New Delhi: The Union health ministry has junked its proposal of extending OPD hours at Safdarjung Hospital as the plan would require additional infrastructure and resources.

In July, the ministry had written to the hospital to initiate the pilot project of extending its OPD (out-patient department) hours from 8 am to 8 pm to avoid crowding of facilities and to provide sufficient time to patients.

The 12-hour OPD move would have been a first of its kind project and a trial for the Centre’s larger proposal for 24/7 health care services in government hospitals.

However, the ministry has now conveyed that it will require additional infrastructure, resources, financial support, etc. and that no further decision on the proposal has been taken.

According to hospital sources, the decision came after the hospital administration conveyed to the ministry that the proposal is not feasible since there are financial constraints currently as well as a shortage of paramedical and supportive staff.

“Such a plan needs more doctors, nurses, technicians, and other staff. It can’t be executed with the current strength. The doctors are already overstressed with work,” a hospital official said.

At present, government hospitals, including Safdarjung, provide OPD services in two shifts — 8 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 4 pm, with special afternoon clinics for ailments such as diabetes and heart diseases a few days a week.

Through the plan, the government had aimed to address the problem of overcrowding plaguing specialty and premier hospitals like Safdarjung and AIIMS.