Himanta directs online OPD booking in medical colleges

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday asked the health department to take measures for online booking in outpatient departments of medical colleges and hospitals in the state.

He also directed streamlining the process for applying online for medical bill reimbursement of state government employees, on official release said.

Sarma issued the instructions during a review of various programmes of the health department. Key issues related to the Assam Secondary Healthcare Systems Reforms Project, the status of the State Cancer Institute at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital and the draft of the Employees Health Assured Scheme were also discussed in the meeting, it said.

He directed that steps should be taken for setting up 50 bedded hospitals under PM Ayushmaan Bharat Abhiyaan at five locations across Assam, besides a 100-bed hospital at Sualkuchi, a mother and child care hospital at Tamulpur and high-quality GNM Nursing School as part of district hospital infrastructure under the same project.

To make the health delivery system hassle-free, Sarma asked for the opening of a green corridor of emergency cases with space for parking besides steps for online booking for OPD at medical colleges, the release said.

He also reviewed the progress of ongoing construction works of five district hospitals in newly created districts.

While discussing various steps taken at State Cancer Institute, GMCH, under the National Programme for prevention and control of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and stroke, the chief minister approved the utilisation plan of the first instalment of funds received from the Centre.

He also gave directions for prompt utilisation of funds to be released under second and third instalments, it said.

Reviewing the draft for implementation of the Employees’ Health Assured Scheme, Sarma directed the introduction of portal-based submission of medical bills for government servants, including the retired employees.

He also directed the end of the empanelled hospital system to make the new mechanism more conducive.

Under the new mechanism, there will be a single admissibility board headed by the CEO of Atal Amrit Abhiyaan Society. The CEO’s office will take steps for verification and other necessary procedures for the release of the admissible amount in a faceless manner with high-end technological intervention, the release said.

The chief minister asked the department to develop a portal and prepare appropriate guidelines to ensure a seamless experience for government servants, the release added.

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