(a) whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to the news-item captioned `AIIMS evening OPD patients turn up, doctors play truant` appearing in the Indian Express dated January 11, 2002;
(b) if so, the facts of the matter reported therein; and
(c) the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SMT. SUSHMA SWARAJ)
(a)to(c): The news item captioned `AIIMS evening OPD Patients trurn up, doctors play truant` appeared in the Indian Express dated January 11, 2003. The evening OPD in medicine, surgery, pediatrics and Obst. & Gynaecology is functioning satisfactorily in All India Institute of Medical Sciences since January 9, 2003 on all working days from Monday to Friday. Initially there were some apprehensions among Resident Doctors regarding functioning of evening OPD. The issues have been resolved and the Faculty who are assigned evening OPD duty are now attending the OPD on the assigned days. A large number of patients are attending evening OPD. Most of them are those patients who cannot avail morning OPD. Any type of acute as well as chronic patients are attended in the evening OPD.