AIIMS Bhopal: 10 Services Now on WhatsApp

AIIMS Bhopal has launched a new WhatsApp service, allowing patients to access approximately 10 hospital functions conveniently. This includes booking outpatient department (OPD) appointments, linking ABHA health IDs, and retrieving laboratory reports and birth or death certificates. Patients can also view discharge summaries and access prescriptions through the platform, which operates around the clock. This move aims to ease routine tasks for patients, especially those who would otherwise need to travel to the hospital. The initiative is being implemented under the guidance of the new director, Dr. Narendra Kotwal. The hospital is also expanding its specialized medical and diagnostic offerings. Plans are in place to introduce PET-CT and Gamma Knife facilities, alongside robotic surgery, with an expected operational date by the end of 2026. Further developments include an additional cardiac catheterisation laboratory, with the goal of having two cath labs, two MRI machines, and two linear accelerators in operation by next year. A Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) for electronic access to diagnostic images and reports is nearing completion, aligning with a move towards a paperless hospital environment. Procurement for a virtual autopsy center, which will utilize CT scans for examinations, is also close to finalization. Furthermore, an extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy facility for kidney stones is slated for installation within two months, offering a non-surgical treatment option.