Patna: The Bihar health department is preparing to track the amount of time doctors spend with patients in government hospital outpatient departments, in a move aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in public healthcare.
Officials said the online software used to manage OPDs is being modified so that the time a patient enters and exits a doctor’s chamber is recorded separately. Until now, the system measured only the total duration from registration to the dispensing of medicines, making it difficult to determine how long consultations actually lasted.
Under the revised system, the consultation period will be logged independently, allowing authorities to distinguish between time spent waiting, undergoing tests and receiving treatment, and the time devoted to direct interaction with doctors.
The health department said the changes would be implemented across the state, from primary health centres to district hospitals, covering both rural and urban facilities. The data collected is expected to be used to assess the quality of medical services and identify areas where improvements may be needed.
According to departmental figures, patients currently spend an average of 38 minutes in OPDs. However, this includes all stages of the process, from registration to the collection of medicines. Officials said the new system would provide a clearer picture of how much of that time is spent on medical consultation.
The department maintained that the initiative was not intended to place undue pressure on doctors but to create a more balanced and accountable system. By measuring consultation times, authorities believe they will be better positioned to ensure patients receive adequate attention and to take corrective steps where necessary.
Health officials described the move as part of a broader effort to shift the focus of government healthcare from sheer volume to the quality of treatment provided, a change that could influence the future direction of the state’s public health services.
