CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: To save patients’ time and provide prompt treatment, private hospitals are now introducing advanced OPD appointment services. This facility is already available in government hospitals and will soon be extended to private hospitals associated with the Ayushman Bharat scheme. On Thursday, the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Office, Bhopal, organized an orientation workshop on the Ayushman Bharat Niramayam Helpline Service at the District Panchayat Office. The workshop included private hospitals affiliated with the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
This helpline service is being operated under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission in collaboration with the William J. Clinton Foundation. Patients can book online appointments from home by calling the toll-free number 18002332085. When calling, patients share their residence or current location, based on which the helpline provides suggestions for nearby hospitals. Appointments are then scheduled according to the patient’s selected hospital and preferred time.
This toll-free service is available from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Patients can book appointments at their convenience, matching hospital OPD hours. They can visit the hospital at the scheduled time and consult the doctor. Additionally, patients can create their ABHA ID by calling the helpline. By providing their Aadhaar card number and Aadhaar-linked mobile number, beneficiaries can easily generate their ABHA ID. Through the navigation support system, beneficiaries can also get information about nearby healthcare facilities.
Dr. Prabhakar Tiwari, CMHO Bhopal, stated that this helpline service is already operational in government health institutions. So far, 7,000 appointments have been provided in Bhopal. For expanding the service, private hospitals associated with the Ayushman Bharat Niramayam scheme are being integrated into the system. This facility is entirely free of charge and helps patients save time effectively
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