Bhubaneswar: The Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) at Red Cross in Berhampur has become the first government-run healthcare facility in Odisha to launch 12-hour Outpatient Department (OPD) services on pilot basis.
Under the initiative, OPD services in medicine, gynaecology and paediatrics will be available from 8 am to 8 pm every day. At present, most hospitals offer OPD for around eight hours. The extended OPD service and a Mega Health Camp were inaugurated on Thursday at AAM-UPHC Red Cross by Berhampur MLA K Anil Kumar in presence of BeMC Mayor Sanghamitra Dalei, Commissioner A Sasya Reddy, health officials and corporators.
“With the 12-hour OPD, residents will be able to access healthcare services more conveniently,” the MLA said. The six-year-old UPHC earlier operated OPD for only six hours — 8 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 8 pm.
Officials said the move is expected to reduce patient load on MKCG Medical College and Hospital and City Hospital, which cater to patients from Berhampur and neighbouring districts.
“This initiative marks an important step towards accessible, affordable and patient-centred primary healthcare. Extended OPD hours will bring quality healthcare closer to citizens,” the Berhampur Municipal Corporation posted on X.
