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WhatsApp for Hospital Appointments: Tamil Nadu's New Pilot
19 Jun
Summary
- WhatsApp will be used for OPD registrations to reduce hospital wait times.
- Patients can book 30-minute slots from home to streamline hospital visits.
- Government is expediting Madurai AIIMS construction and improving hospitals.
Tamil Nadu Health Minister Arun Raj announced a new pilot project to leverage WhatsApp for Outpatient Department (OPD) registrations in major state-run hospitals. This initiative aims to drastically cut down severe wait times at facilities like MMC and Stanley.
Patients will now be able to book 30-minute slots from the comfort of their homes, mirroring practices in private healthcare. The minister assured that hospital staff would provide assistance to individuals who do not own smartphones.
Furthermore, the government is actively pursuing all available avenues to accelerate the construction of the long-delayed Madurai AIIMS. Efforts are also underway to upgrade all government hospitals to meet global standards.
The minister highlighted Tamil Nadu's commendable doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:250. Concurrently, the government is reviewing requests for new medical colleges in districts currently lacking such facilities. The performance of the flagship 'Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam' scheme is also being assessed to optimize its public benefit. In a separate matter, the minister dismissed opposition claims of protocol breaches in the legislative assembly, criticizing the previous government's actions.
