Minister advises medical superintendents to adopt practise of SVIMS to deal with patients at OPD

Vijayawada: The minister for health, Satya Kumar Yadav, has advised the medical superintendents of government hospitals to adopt the practices of SVIMS, Tirupati, to help manage the influx of patients at outpatient departments (OPD).

The minister conducted a review meeting with the superintendents from 17 government hospitals via teleconference on Thursday to assess the implementation of the 30-point plan aimed at streamlining healthcare services. He noted that SVIMS had introduced a system of issuing slips through a dedicated phone number, allocating slots for patients at the OPD to expedite treatment. He urged the superintendents to innovate with new practices to enhance patient care.

The minister also inquired about the maintenance of sanitation, the creation of a welcoming environment, the establishment of help desks, the distribution of slips at the OPD, and ensuring patients receive treatment within 30 minutes of arrival. Additionally, he emphasised the importance of senior doctors being present in the OPD, the development of basic amenities, the setup of digital libraries, timely blood test reports (issued by afternoon if samples are collected in the morning), and the upkeep of medical equipment, all in line with the 20-point programme.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the failure to instil confidence in patients regarding the quality of care at government hospitals, the minister warned that any complacency in providing healthcare services would no longer be tolerated. He advised superintendents to review the implementation of the 30-point programme on a weekly basis and encouraged them to initiate plantation drives within the hospital premises.

The special chief secretary for health, M.T. Krishna Babu, urged the superintendents to work with dedication to provide high-quality healthcare services that meet patient satisfaction promptly.