Token system at Civil Hospital soon

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 2

Good news for patients and attendants at the Civil Hospital, as the authorities have decided to start token system at the OPD to cater to the rush of patients.

Everyday, huge rush is witnessed outside doctors’ rooms and patients are seen standing outside jostling for space and turn.

Many a times, patients are seen arguing over their turns or complaining that they keep standing outside for hours, saying nobody calls them inside. Patients in urgent need of treatment and care, sometimes keep standing outside and are unable to meet the doctor.

Even doctors complain that several patients barge into their rooms and they are unable to focus and attend patients properly. “People generally push each other to get inside the OPD and it causes a lot of inconvenience to both — patients and doctors,” said a doctor on duty in the OPD.

Dr Avinash Jindal, medicine specialist at the Civil Hospital, said they face a lot of problems every day due to authorities’ mismanagement. “We hope things will get better once the token system starts,” he said.

Manohar Lal, a patient from Shimlapuri, said: “The worst affected are patients like me, who have fever and are unable to even stand. I was struggling for my turn and it has been over two hours that I am waiting for my turn. I cannot fight for my turn even, as I am down with high fever and feeling weak.”

According to the new system, patients will get a token as soon as they come with the OPD slip outside the doctor’s room and will go to see the doctor according to the number on it.

The Civil Hospital is the main hospital of the district, which caters to patients not only from Ludhiana city, but also from the periphery areas such as Sahnewal, Doraha, Machhiwara, Jagraon and Raikot. On an average, the hospital receives nearly 500 patients every day.