In a major step towards digitising healthcare delivery, the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, is set to roll out an e-hospital system that will make patient registration, consultations and medical records largely paperless, cutting waiting time and easing the burden on both patients and doctors.
The hospital authorities said the system will initially be launched on a pilot basis and gradually extended across all outpatient departments (OPDs) and inpatient departments (IPDs). The move follows the successful implementation of the e-office system at the hospital, which has already streamlined administrative functioning. According to GMCH-32 Director-Principal Dr G P Thami, the introduction of e-hospital services will mark a major shift in how patients interact with the hospital.
“E-office is now in place in the hospital, leading to a more professional environment, paperless work and quicker movement of files. Only a few branches, like accounts and purchases, are pending,” he said. Dr Thami said the e-hospital system would not only speed up administrative processes but also save valuable time for patients. “Once e-hospital is fully functional, a patient’s journey, from registration to consultation and prescription, will be largely digital,” he said.
A key feature of the system will be the integration of ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) IDs, which will serve as a single digital repository of a patient’s medical history. Patients with an ABHA ID will no longer need to carry physical OPD cards, files, or old prescriptions. “If a patient’s ABHA ID is in place, menu-based registration will work. The patient’s entire details, including health records, will already be uploaded on the system,” Dr Thami explained. “Doctors will be able to access the patient’s medical history on the computer in both OPD and IPD with just one click.”
Under the new system, once a patient’s token number is generated, all relevant details will be available on the doctor’s screen even before the consultation begins. Prescriptions, diagnoses, and treatment plans will also be digitally recorded and linked to the ABHA ID, allowing patients to access them at any time.
“This will be particularly useful if a patient seeks treatment at another hospital or consults a different doctor in the future. The entire medical history can be shared instantly through the ABHA ID,” Dr Thami said.
While the hospital is pushing for digitisation, officials stressed that patients who are not digitally literate will not be excluded. “For those who do not have an ABHA ID or are not comfortable with digital systems, the previous method will continue,” Dr Thami said, adding that the transition would be gradual and patient-friendly.
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The hospital plans to begin the pilot phase within the next week by installing the system on doctors’ laptops. “Soon after, computers will be made available across all OPDs and IPDs,” Dr Thami said, noting that the e-hospital project would eventually be extended to inpatient services as well.
The GMCH-32 has already made progress in digitising its operations. Most OPDs have online registration facilities, and a majority of laboratory reports are available digitally. The hospital is also working towards making radiology services, including X-ray films, accessible online and expanding digital payment options through UPI at cash counters.
Officials believe that the shift to a cloud-based, next-generation e-hospital system will help reduce overcrowding at counters, improve coordination between departments, and enhance continuity of care.
Healthcare experts say such systems are especially important for high-footfall public hospitals like GMCH-32, where managing patient load remains a challenge. By reducing paperwork and eliminating record duplication, the hospital aims to enhance efficiency without compromising access.
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With the e-hospital rollout, GMCH-32 joins a growing list of public healthcare institutions attempting to modernise service delivery through technology, a move that could reshape how government hospitals function in the coming years.
