New Initiative Aims to Streamline Healthcare Access
Chandigarh, March 21, 2025: In a move to enhance healthcare accessibility, the Haryana Health Department has launched a toll-free helpline 104, enabling patients to book doctor appointments at government hospitals. This initiative aligns with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s commitment to digitizing healthcare services.
Helpline Offers Multiple Services
Health and Medical Education Minister Kumari Arti Singh Rao, while inaugurating the helpline from Sector-1, Panchkula, called it a “historic day” for the Health Department. Apart from booking doctor appointments, the helpline will also facilitate healthcare-related complaint registrations, ensuring resolutions within five days. Additionally, it will provide medicine-related information to callers.
Reducing Hospital Queues and Enhancing Services
The helpline aims to reduce long queues at civil hospitals by allowing patients to schedule consultations in advance. Speaking to the media, Kumari Arti Singh Rao assured that necessary measures would be taken to protect healthcare workers and announced the appointment of 761 new doctors to address staffing shortages.
Integration with E-Telemedicine & Infrastructure Improvements
The minister also highlighted plans to integrate the existing e-telemedicine services with the new system. Additionally, she stated that a meeting with the Public Works Department would soon be held to discuss hospital maintenance and repair work.
The launch event saw participation from CMOs across the state via video conferencing. Senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretary Sudhir Rajpal, Director General of Health Services Dr. Manish Bansal, Director of the National Health Mission Dr. Virender Yadav, and Dr. Kuldeep Singh, were also present.
