Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) has decided to provide patients on its waiting lists with specific dates and times for their doctor's appointments.
Chief Information Officer of IGMH Abdulla Mustafa said the decision was made as part of its efforts to ease the challenges faced by patients in receiving timely services.
From January, IGMH will begin providing a specific date and time for doctor's appointments for patients waiting in long queues. The change is expected to ease the financial burden on island residents staying in Male' City for their appointments.
The state-run hospital will also provide an immediate doctor's appointment for patients in need of emergency care. IGMH has received numerous complaints about patients being unable to receive timely healthcare services after they are forced to cancel their appointments after waiting in long queues.
Mustafa said IGMH is working to bring permanent solutions to these issues and that the new change will greatly ease the challenges faced by patients on its waiting list.
IGMH has also established a Hospital Management Information System (HMIS), to manage all medical records digitally. IGMH stated the purpose of the system is to modernise and strengthen the operations of the hospital by enabling it to provide online services to its patients in making appointments and providing access to prescriptions, lab reports, and other such documents.
A mobile application has been introduced, along with an online portal for patients, where these services would be available.