Even though there is a system for online registration and billing, the general public is forced to wait in line for hours to avail the service.
What you should know
Even after five years since the online service was launched at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan, it has not been implemented effectively.
Despite the provision of online registration and billing, the general public is forced to queue for hours to get services.
In institutions where thousands of patients come daily, there are long queues at all counters, from tickets, tests, consultations to pharmacies. The crowd starts growing in front of the ticket counter from 6 am. Most patients who find the online system complicated, do not understand the language and do not know the process depend on the counter.
The suffering of senior citizens, pregnant women, people with disabilities and patients coming from far away is even more painful. They have to suffer further due to the problem of occasional server down. 'I stood in line at 5 am and got the ticket only at 9 am,' said local Bhuwan Rai.
Shobha Rai of Barahakshetra-7 had sought treatment through OPD to avoid the complicated process of health insurance. But there was a long queue there too. She looked frustrated when there was still a delay. ‘Time is wasted waiting in line, more worried about the line than the treatment,’ she complained.
Despite the online service, patients are suffering due to the lack of technology and system updates. ‘Many find it difficult to get tickets, bills or doctor’s appointments online,’ says Poonam Rai of Dharan, ‘I don’t understand English, online is even more difficult.’
The foundation has stated that pressure management has become a challenge as it has to serve twice the daily capacity. Dr. Anju Pradhan, spokesperson for the foundation, says that 4-5 thousand patients come daily in emergencies alone.
She admits that delays in service have naturally increased since the number of doctors and health workers has not increased. Due to the influx of patients, there is an extraordinary pressure on video X-ray, X-ray, CT scan, lab, etc. There is a situation where people have to wait for weeks for CT scan. Due to the lack of MRI machines, patients in serious conditions are forced to go to private and expensive hospitals. Jayakrishna Narayan Yadav of Saptari complains that patients from far away are forced to go to the hospital every day.
