Chennai: Tamil Nadu Health Minister Arunraj on Wednesday said the state will introduce an appointment booking system in government hospitals to reduce long waiting times for patients.
Speaking after a meeting of medical college principals at the DMS campus in Teynampet, the minister said patient footfall is especially high on Mondays and Tuesdays, with up to 3,000 people visiting, often forcing them to wait for long hours in the sun.
To address this, the department plans to launch a dedicated mobile application developed through a private agency. Patients will be able to book appointments using Aadhaar between 8.00 am and 9.00 am.
The system will be implemented soon in government medical college hospitals. The minister also said patient experience committees will be formed in all hospitals to meet weekly and monitor facilities and hygiene.
He added that new specialist doctor and nursing posts will be created, and steps have been taken to ensure power outages do not affect patients. A coordination committee involving the Health Department, Public Works Department and the Electricity Board will be set up to handle issues such as power disruptions.
