In order to simplify the registration process and reduce the long queues of patients at government hospitals, the State Health Department has launched online ticket booking for patients visiting outpatient departments (OPDs) of the medical college hospitals in Kolkata.

This system has already been introduced at the SSKM Hospital and would soon be replicated at the other medical colleges. Tickets can be booked seven days prior to the date of visit. The process of booking an OPD online is simple. A patient who want to consult a doctor in a particular hospital department needs to visit the Health Department website (hyperlink www.wbhealth.gov.in) and continue into the ‘OPD Ticket Booking’ section under ‘E-Governance’, or go directly to the page, Online Ticket Booking System.

There, the patient has to register using a mobile phone number, then enter the one-time password (OTP) sent to that number, followed by details like hospital, name, age, address, etc. Patient must also provide their ration card number in order to complete the OPD booking. On successfully completing the process, a ticket is generated whose printed copy must be carried while visiting the hospital.