Extended hours see more patients at state hospitals

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The percentage of patients who seek medical treatment from OPDs of state hospitals between 4 pm and 8 pm has gone up by 15 to 20 percent. The drug requirement has also gone up by 30 percent.

The Health Ministry will further extend OPD service hours to meet the rush, a Health Ministry spokesman said. According to the spokesman, State hospitals' OPD service was available to the public from 8 am to 4 pm earlier. Under the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, arrangements were made to expand this to 24 hours service.

It is now available from 8 am to 8 pm. Earlier patients sought the services of private hospitals after 4 pm, but they can now obtain treatment from state hospital OPDs free of charge. The quantum of drugs required too has gone up by 35 percent. The government spends Rs. 14,000 million on drugs. This is to be increased to match the demand.

During the past three years, the percentage of patients who sought medical treatment from state hospitals increased by 20 percent.