Online registration system for doctor’s consultancy introduced

With a view to providing better health facilities to the people of the state, the Bihar cabinet gave its nod to an online registration system for availing doctor’s consultancy at the OPDs of medical college hospitals down to the primary health centers. The cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar gave its nod constituting and registering the Bihar Health Protection Committee (BHPC) for implementing the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The online registration facility would be free as the cabinet abolished the existing registration fee of Rs. 5 for medical college hospitals and Rs. 2 for district and sub-divisional hospitals and Rs. 1 for primary health centers. Patients from across the state would be able to get medical consultancy from anywhere in the state; this will help patients and their attendants avoid standing in long queues for registration.

The online registration system would also help in reducing the number of people waiting at the registration counter. At present an average 10,480 patients visit each government hospital in Bihar per month. Patients and their attendants can make the online registration through respective websites of medical colleges and related hospitals. The BHPC will be registered under the Society Registration Act, 1860, and the cabinet meeting also approved its by-laws for the purpose. Identified families from weaker sections of the society will be given insurance protection cover of rs. 5 lakh per family under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.