Patna: The state cabinet on Tuesday approved the system of booking online OPD (out patient department) appointments at government hospitals across the state.

As per the cabinet decision, those who apply for online OPD appointments will not have to pay registration charges. At present, Rs 5 is charged for OPD appointment at medical college hospitals, Rs 2 for appointments at district and sub-divisional hospitals, and Re 1 for primary health centres (PHCs). However, people booking OPD appointments at hospital counters under the Sanjeevani system will have to pay the registration charges.

"The online registration system aims at providing better medical facilities to the people of the state," said cabinet secretariat principal secretary Arun Kumar Singh.

An average of 10,480 patients arrive at every health institution per month, which leads to crowd and congestion at registration counters run under the Sanjeevani health welfare system for printed registration receipt. The cabinet note says that information technology would be used to provide smooth online OPD appointments to patients. It is expected to not only help patients get treated as per their convenience, but also to save their time and energy as they won't have to queue up in front of registration counters. The move will also help increase the capacity of operators working at hospital counters.

The cabinet also approved the health department proposal to provide salary and retirement benefits till the age of 65 to those Ayurvedic, Unani and homeopathic practitioners of Bihar Ayush Medical Teaching Services cadre who retired between January 28, 2011 and December 22, 2011 at the age of 62.

The decision comes in the wake of a prod by the Patna High Court on January 31 this year. The benefits will be given on the condition that they could be realised from the beneficiaries if the special leave petition filed in the Supreme Court strikes down the high court order. The cabinet also approved the proposal to implement the central government's Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission to provide up to Rs 5 lakh health security and implement the scheme in the state through the Bihar Health Security Committee. The beneficiaries for the financial year 2018-19 would be identified on the basis of the socio-economic caste census, 2011.