- By Akansha Pandey
- Fri, 12 Dec 2025 10:41 AM (IST)
- Source:Jagran News Network
AIIMS Gorakhpur has implemented a major shift in its Outpatient Department (OPD) consultation process. Patients can no longer obtain direct registration slips to consult with super-specialist doctors.
Under the new "Referral-Only" system, direct access has been restricted to manage patient load and prioritise critical cases.
The New Consultation Procedure
To consult a super-specialist, patients must follow a tiered process:
Initial Screening: Patients must first visit a doctor in the relevant general department (e.g., General Medicine).
Referral: If the general doctor deems it necessary based on the illness, they will provide a referral slip for the specific super-specialist.
Registration: The patient or their relatives must present this referral slip at the OPD registration counter to generate the final registration slip for the specialist.
Exemption: For patient convenience, those holding referral slips from other government hospitals are exempt from the screening process and can obtain their specialist registration slips directly at the counter.
Affected Departments
The restriction applies to the following super-specialty OPDs:
- Gastroenterology
- Gastro Surgery
- Neurology
- Neuro Surgery
- Cardiology
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Pain Medicine
Rationale Behind The Move
The administration cited overcrowding as the primary driver for this decision. Previously, approximately 200 patients would seek direct consultations daily in these departments.
Impact on Doctors: Specialists were forced to consult patients late into the night.
Impact on Patients: Patients requiring critical care often faced long wait times or returned without treatment due to the high volume of non-critical cases.
Historical Context
This is the second time this system has been implemented at the institute. The restrictions were previously in place but were abolished by the former Executive Director, Dr. Ajay Singh, who also extended OPD timings to increase patient access. The current administration has reinstated the controls to streamline operations.
Implementation And Public Feedback
Notices regarding the new protocol have been displayed across the hospital premises, and staff are actively informing patients at the counters.
However, the move has faced criticism regarding referrals from private practitioners.
Patient Grievance: Sushil Singh, a resident of Deoria, reported difficulties in securing care for his mother. despite a recommendation from a private doctor in Deoria to see a gastroenterologist, he was denied a direct slip and directed to General Medicine first.
Public Demand: There is a growing demand that referral slips from private hospitals should also be accepted to prevent unnecessary delays for serious patients.
Official Statement
Major General (Retired) Dr Vibha Dutta, Executive Director of AIIMS Gorakhpur, defended the move, stating that the system is designed to improve the quality of treatment.
She said, "This system has been created for the excellent treatment of patients. When patients come via referral, specialist doctors will be able to treat them even better. This will prevent overcrowding at these doctors' clinics. Everyone should cooperate in this matter."