How useful are evening Out Patient Departments (OPDs) in Government Medical College Hospitals?

The answer, for now, seems to be caught in a policy-level clash. While Minister for Medical Education Dr V S Acharya contends that evening OPDs are “not needed” in Government Medical College Hospitals as they are open 24x7 with duty doctors on call, Health Minister R Ashok has a different take on the issue. For him, 24x7 shifts work only as emergency services and evening OPDs are imperative to address the needs of patients who come in with ailments. This, when a Deccan Herald reality check on evening OPDs in three Government Medical College Hospitals revealed that despite the logistical pitfalls, the evening OPDs were benefiting patients, inspite of its teething months.

A medical superintendent said if awareness is created regarding the services, the number of patients will increase.

Finance Minister B S Yediyurappa had in the 2007-2008 Budget announced evening OPDs —  which would function from 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm — to benefit lower income groups to avail services after work hours in all Government Hospitals. OPDs in most Government establishments function from 9 am to 5 pm otherwise.

The budget states that the evening OPDs should function in all Government Hospitals, which include Medical College Hospitals, the Health minister clarified. “The evening OPD is not relevant in these hospitals where doctors work 24x7. ” Dr Acharya said.

Deccan Herald visited Victoria, Bowring and Vani Vilas Hospital on September 3 which have  functioning OPDs. Display banners said that OPDs would be open to patients from 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm, with many PG students and interns attending to the sick.

A highly placed source in a Government Medical College Hospital revealed that the hospital had not even received the Government order yet, making it difficult to outsource duty doctors for the OPD.  He also said that the funds prescribed by the Government were inadequate to rope in doctors or run the OPD. “There should also be a dressing room, a laboratory, X-ray room etc to run an OPD, which require extra funds,” he said. While the Department of Health and Family Welfare have issued orders with guidelines to be followed by the Government Hospitals under their jurisdiction, Dr Acharya  felt there was no need for orders.

GOVT’S INTENTIONS
*Evening OPDs in all GHs with a 30-plus bed strength
*To function from 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm
* For each day in an OPD, doctors will be paid Rs 300; nurses, paramedical staff will be paid Rs 100
*Service in evening OPD will be on a voluntary basis for Government Medical Officers working in a hospital
* If Government doctors are not willing to work in evening OPDs, the administrative medical officer can hire other private doctors for help

OPD COUNT

Victoria Hospital 
* Time: 6.30 pm
* Patients: 16 till then
* Doctors: One in-house surgeon, one PG student and one intern