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Chandigarh: The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, has introduced a special walk-in OPD service for its liver clinic, streamlining follow-up consultations for patients. Announced by the Department of Hepatology on Friday, the initiative is set to benefit the approximately 1,000 patients the clinic serves weekly.
PGIMER Director Prof. Vivek Lal highlighted the significance of this service, calling it a major advancement in patient care. “This new system will enable us to provide timely consultations while alleviating the burden on our outpatient department. It’s a step towards enhancing healthcare delivery and reducing patient waiting times,” he said.
To further aid accessibility, Deputy Director (Administration) Pankaj Rai emphasized plans to integrate this service with e-Sampark and Lok Mitra Kendras in neighboring states. “This initiative ensures that even patients unfamiliar with technology can avail of these services seamlessly,” Rai said.
During the inaugural session, over 500 patients benefitted from the new service. Prof. Ajay Duseja, Head of the Department of Hepatology, described the program as a “game changer” for those managing chronic conditions like liver disease. “It empowers patients to proactively manage their appointments, a critical step in treating chronic liver diseases,” he noted.
The liver clinic has long served patients battling chronic liver disease (CLD), who previously relied on traditional walk-in registrations. However, challenges such as long queues and unpredictable patient volumes often caused delays and operational hurdles.
To address these issues, the Department of Hepatology has repurposed two rooms within the clinic—one for online appointment scheduling and the other for prioritizing follow-up examinations. This infrastructure upgrade aims to simplify processes for both patients and staff.
The service is currently in a pilot phase, with 30 patients accommodated per clinic session. “This is just the beginning,” said Prof. Duseja. “As more patients adopt this system, we will expand its capacity and add more dedicated examination rooms to meet the demand.”
The new initiative underscores PGIMER’s commitment to delivering patient-centric care and leveraging technology to improve healthcare outcomes. With plans for further integration and scaling, the service holds promise for transforming liver clinic operations in the region.
