Siliguri District Hospital plans affordable outpatient services to improve access to healthcare

The Siliguri District Hospital (SDH) will launch a dedicated afternoon outpatient service, offering consultations at less than half the fees private practitioners charge to make medical care more accessible.

Shankar Ghosh, the state tourism minister and a member of SDH’s Rogi Kalyan Samiti, announced the proposal after a meeting at the hospital. He added that a formal proposal for the facility had been sent to the state health minister Sharadwat Mukherjee.

Sources said the proposed OPD would also let patients consult doctors who no longer practise in the private sector.

“The service is expected to provide an additional avenue for patients seeking medical advice without having to bear the cost of visiting private chambers,” said a source.

“Under the proposed arrangement, patient records and other relevant medical information will be maintained digitally, forming part of the hospital’s efforts to expand the use of technology in its services,” the source said.

“We are introducing a smart OPD at the hospital. It will operate separately after the regular hours, allowing patients to consult doctors at less than half the consultation fees charged in the private sector,” Ghosh said.

More than 1,500 patients visit the hospital on an average day.

The high footfall often makes it difficult for patients to access consultations faster and the cost of private treatment remains a concern for several families, said
a source.

Hospital app

The state government is planning a common mobile application for Siliguri District Hospital (SDH) and North Bengal Medical College & Hospital (NBMCH).

“The proposed application will provide updated information on patient numbers across departments, vacant beds and the availability of blood units by group at the blood bank. This is expected to help patients and their families check essential information before approaching the hospitals,” said a source.

“The proposed digital platform could also make it easier for people to assess the availability of hospital services, particularly during emergencies,” the source added.