Sambalpur: OPD Ticket Machines at DHH Non-Operational After 7 Months, Patients Forced to Wait in Long Queues
OPD Ticket Machines Installed but Now Defunct
Sambalpur: In February, the previous state government installed four OPD ticket vending machines at Sambalpur District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) to shorten patient wait times. This initiative aimed to make it easier for patients to obtain tickets and consult with doctors without having to stand in long lines. After only seven months of operation, the machines have stopped working, forcing patients to return to the traditional queue system.
Long Queues for Critical Patients
Patients, particularly those in critical condition, now face long wait times for tickets. Despite their installation, all four machines were left unattended and are no longer operational. The previous government planned to make significant changes to healthcare by implementing free medicine schemes under Niramaya and free treatment in private hospitals under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana. However, the current situation at DHH causes significant inconvenience to patients.
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Untrained Staff and Lack of Awareness
Initially, hospital staff instructed the public on how to operate these machines. The machines were strategically placed, with three at the general ticket counters and one near the pediatric ward. Despite this, the machines were frequently shut down due to a lack of proper internet connectivity and misuse by some who used them for unrelated purposes, such as watching YouTube. Local intellectuals have expressed concern about the administration’s failure to maintain and operate these machines effectively.
Return to Manual Ticketing
With the machines no longer functional, patients must once again wait in line, often for long periods of time, to obtain their OPD tickets. The situation is especially difficult for those traveling from afar, who now face additional stress and delays in receiving medical care. The machines, which were supposed to streamline the process, are now just another symbol of a well-intentioned but poorly executed strategy. The public has grown increasingly frustrated with the local administration’s inability to resolve this issue.
