Patients left in the lurch, chaos reigns

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

The servers went kaput at the Sanathnagar ESI Hospital on Thursday morning leaving hundreds of beneficiaries and patients unable to book outpatient slips. The breakdown began around 7 a.m. and continued for several hours, creating long queues and frustration among those seeking medical attention.

Patients could not secure OP slips due to the system failure. Hospital staff advised them to download the Android app and book appointments online. However, many patients were unfamiliar with the app and struggled to navigate its options. “We don’t know how to book on the phone. Without the OP slip, we cannot see the doctor,” said one patient waiting in line.

Another visitor expressed anger over the lack of guidance. “The staff just told us to use the app but gave no explanation. We are stuck here without help,” he said. “Normally it comes back quickly, but on Thursday it has been down the whole day,” said a relative of a patient.

Patients urged authorities to provide clear instructions and ensure that such breakdowns do not recur. “We are already suffering from illness. Waiting for hours just to get an OP slip is unbearable,” said another patient. The prolonged outage has sparked calls for stronger technical support and patient-friendly alternatives to prevent similar disruptions in future.