The Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) in Thimphu started limited Outpatient Department (OPD) services from today but many people came to seek the service. The hospital recorded more than 100 patients today. This is besides the hospital’s plea to get teleconsultation first and visit the hospital only on the advice of the consulting doctor.
The hospital started with OPD services from today after Thimphu was declared as a yellow zone. According to the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, the services is limited, to prevent the outbreak of COVID in the hospital.
“We have teleconsultation services whereby a patient can call the specialist. If a medicine is required, the doctor will prescribe and our pharmacy will deliver to the respective zone. There may be some patients who would require to visit the hospital for examination after having teleconsultation. We expect only those type of patients to visit the hospital,” said Dr Gosar Pemba, the Medical Superintendent.
He added that the limited services are also for patients who need urgent laboratory investigation. Dr Gosar said “I would like to request people not to come to the hospital for medicine refill. They should call the provided numbers and the medicines will be dropped in their respective zones. ”
People are also requested to visit satellite clinics within their zones for immunization.
According to the hospital, people cannot consult a doctor of their choice as there is only one doctor in each Outpatient Departments like general OPD, medical, pediatric and dermatology among others.
Normal OPD services are expected to resume towards the end of this month only if there are no cases from the community.
Kinley Dem
