Panaji: The Super Specialty Block (SSB) of Goa Medical College (GMC) has discontinued token generation for its OPDs from Monday.Patients will now need to stand in only one queue outside their respective OPD, instead of queuing twice.GMC has issued a circular to streamline OPD consultations and encourage online appointment bookings.“Earlier, people would queue up early in the morning to generate a token, and there was the issue of caretakers illegally blocking slots. They would then need to register again with their respective department,” a GMC official said, adding that the hospital is urging patients to shift to online registration.The SSB has a help desk to assist patients with booking online appointments, but not for the same day. The online system also does not yet offer doctor-specific appointments.Patients seeking a specific doctor’s appointment will have to stand in the queue to see a consultant of his or her choice after online appointment, an official said. The rest can wait outside an OPD once online registration is done.The updated process is being introduced on the lines of the system followed at the old GMC block.Departments covered include neurology, cardiology, pediatric surgery, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, plastic surgery, neurosurgery, nephrology, oncology and others.Endocrinology OPD is yet to go online.
