THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The success of kiosk facility at the Peoorkada Model Hospital here has prompted the authorities to introduce it in more hospitals. The computerised system at the kiosk helps patients coming to outpatient departments to get appointment with doctors without much delay. Four more kiosks are to be set up in the hospital soon. At the kiosk, one can register with Aadhar number, telephone number, ration card number or voter identity card. It will generate a temporary number which will be subsequently converted into registration number and linked with other details of individual patient. The next time when the patient visits the hospital, he only needs to key in the registration number.
The patient can choose the speciality or department where he requires consultation. The provision of selecting doctors has not yet been introduced. However, experts say that would be considered later. The kiosk installed at the Peroorkada hospital was tested for more than one month and the results were excellent. Based on the results, the authorities decided to procure five more kiosks through Keltron which is manufacturing them for the health department. Along with Peroorkada hospital, the authorities are also planning to have the facility at the SAT women and children hospital within a month. More hospitals would be taken up for kiosk facility subsequently.
The government plan is to introduce the kiosk facility in most major hospitals across the state. The task is gigantic as people engaged with the project will have to conduct a detailed analysis of how these facilities are being used in urban and rural areas. According to estimates about five kiosks will be required in hospitals which on an average get more than 1000 persons at the OP departments. Experts say while the major registration work will go online with the E- Health project, kiosk system will also be available at hospitals for those who want to avail of this facility.
