The Tamil Nadu government plans to introduce a mobile application for booking appointments at state-run medical college hospitals, aiming to reduce long queues and overcrowding. Health Minister K G Arunraj announced this initiative on Thursday during a review meeting with hospital deans.
Addressing Overcrowding at Major Hospitals
With approximately 3,000 outpatients visiting government medical college hospitals daily, many spend over two hours waiting at registration counters. The new app is expected to streamline the process. “We hope the app will help us tackle overcrowding, especially at our flagship hospitals such as Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital or Stanley Medical College and Hospital,” said Arunraj.
App Features and Pilot Plan
The app will offer appointment slots of 30 minutes each, with bookings linked to the patient’s Aadhaar number. The development and operations will be outsourced to a private agency. “We are expecting the pilot soon,” the minister added.
Cost of Healthcare in Tamil Nadu
Data from the National Survey Organisation’s 80th Round Health Survey indicates high demand for government hospitals in Tamil Nadu due to low costs. Patients at public hospitals spend just Rs 1,079 (urban) and Rs 1,181 (rural) out-of-pocket per hospitalization—the lowest among major states and significantly below the national averages of Rs 4,452 (urban) and Rs 4,290 (rural).
In contrast, private hospital treatment in Tamil Nadu is among the costliest, with average bills of Rs 79,000 (urban) and Rs 68,000 (rural), exceeding national averages and those in Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
Arunraj clarified that these expenses are not for medical fees but for travel, food, clothes, and toiletries. He assured that the quality of treatment in government hospitals for obstetrics, cardiac care, and trauma care is on par with private facilities.
Plans to Improve Basic Facilities
The minister acknowledged that basic amenities such as toilets, drinking water, and cleanliness need improvement in government hospitals. A patient experience committee will be set up to meet weekly and assess the adequacy of these facilities.
Staffing Enhancements
Arunraj also announced plans to fill nursing vacancies and increase specialist positions at district hospitals, noting that sanctioned staff strength has not kept pace with patient load. “All facilities are on par with private facilities. People can trust government hospitals,” he said.
