Long Queues and Online Ticketing Issues Challenge Patients at Civil Hospital

Due to continuous two-day weekly holidays, the queue of patients and their relatives waiting to get OPD tickets at Civil Hospital has extended beyond the canteen area. Some patients have reported attempting to book their tickets online for two to three days without success. Hospital staff have assured that the issue will be resolved within one to two days. The enforcement of government-declared holidays on Saturdays and Sundays has significantly increased patient crowds, causing difficulties in accessing healthcare services, according to hospital employees.

8 Baishakh, Kathmandu – This morning, the line of patients and their relatives waiting for OPD tickets at Civil Hospital stretched well beyond the canteen. Many expressed frustration after standing in line for an extended period. A patient waiting in line reported unsuccessful attempts to secure an online ticket over the past two to three days. Hospital personnel have pledged that the problem will be addressed within a day or two.

Patients have also complained that even after booking tickets online, they are still required to wait in line to obtain OPD tickets physically. The crowd outside most entrance doors in the hospital’s outpatient department has caused unsanitary conditions. Doctors and staff reported that following the government’s implementation of Saturday and Sunday holidays, there is a sharp rise in service users on subsequent days, leading to overcrowding and difficulties in managing the flow. The lack of efficient crowd management has made accessing essential health services more challenging. With two days off per week, other government hospitals such as Bir Hospital are also facing increased patient overcrowding in OPDs, further deteriorating service conditions. Despite the government’s new policy promoting online rather than in-person queuing, the long lines at Civil Hospital continue to frustrate patients.