Agartala: Patient attendance at the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Govind Ballabh Pant (GB Pant) Hospital, Tripura's largest government referral hospital, has shown a modest increase following the state government's decision to prohibit doctors of Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and GB Pant Hospital from private practice.

Alongside the move, the state government has announced several measures aimed at improving patient care by expanding OPD services, increasing the number of doctors, and strengthening hospital infrastructure.

A senior health department official, requesting anonymity, said that the hospital has experienced a slight rise in OPD footfall over the past two working days since the announcement.

"Although the government has announced a complete ban on private practice by doctors of GB Pant Hospital and AGMC, the formal notification is yet to be issued," the official said.

According to the official, around 2,590 patients visited the OPD on the first day after the announcement, while approximately 2,400 patients sought treatment on the second day. Earlier, the hospital used to receive an average of 2,300 OPD patients daily.

"The figures indicate a marginal increase in patient turnout, but there has not been any significant surge," the official added.

Addressing concerns over overcrowding and long waiting times, the official attributed some of the inconvenience to prevailing weather conditions and the limited number of ticket counters. However, he said the government has already begun implementing several improvements to enhance patient experience.

Among the initiatives are the installation of additional electric fans near OPD waiting areas to provide relief from the heat, an increase in seating capacity through more benches, and the expansion of OPD units to ease patient congestion and reduce waiting time.

The official also said that more doctors are being deployed to ensure faster consultations and better healthcare delivery. Additionally, two new ticket counters will soon become operational, while volunteers and security personnel will be stationed across the hospital to assist patients and attendants, facilitate smoother movement, and improve overall service delivery.