Port Blair, June 16: The Member of Parliament, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Chief Secretary to Increase Cardiology OPD Days to four days a week and Implement Online Token Issuance System of G B Pant Hospital.

During his recent meeting with the Chief Secretary, the Member of Parliament expressed gratitude for resuming the services of the Cath Lab and Cardiology OPD, which is giving outstanding service to the people of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. 

He said that this service has proven to be a tremendous blessing for the people of the Islands, as we have witnessed a large number of individuals with cardiac issues seeking medical assistance at G B Pant hospital on a daily basis.

He pointed out that the current schedule for the OPD is limited to only Wednesdays and Saturdays, which has resulted in some inconvenience for the public. “On OPD days many patients have to wait in long queues since early morning 5.30 AM/6.30 AM to get a token, (issued at 8.00 AM) to see a Cardiologist. On OPD Days only a limited number of tokens (approximately 15 for male patients and 15 for female patients) are issued. Consequently, a substantial number of individuals are unable to obtain a token to visit the specialist, despite their urgent need for cardiac care and they have to go back disheartened,” he explained.

In light of these circumstances the MP requested the Chief Secretary to increase the Cardiology OPD days to four days a week from two days a week.

“By increasing the frequency of the OPD, more individuals would have the opportunity to consult with a cardiologist and receive the necessary treatment. This change would alleviate the burden on the existing system and cater to the growing demand for cardiology services in our region,” said the MP.

The Member of Parliament also proposed the implementation of an online or phone-based token issuance system for patients. This would enable patients to obtain their tokens without the need to physically visit the hospital early in the morning.

He also mentioned that patients especially those travelling from distant locations such as Chidiyatapu, Wandoor, Chouldari endure considerable hardships having to make multiple trips to the hospital for token issuance and subsequent appointments. Implementing an online or phone-based system would streamline the process and alleviate the additional burden on patients who are already facing health challenges, he added.