Extended OPD Timings Rolled Out Across Punjab

The Punjab Health Department has extended outpatient department (OPD) hours in all government teaching hospitals, aiming to give patients more time to access medical services.

According to an official notification, OPDs will now remain open from 8am to 3pm on Mondays to Thursdays and Saturdays, an hour longer than the previous schedule.

On Fridays, services will operate from 8am to 1pm.

A Health Department spokesperson said the decision was made to serve more patients and reduce long queues, particularly benefiting those travelling from rural or distant areas.

The extended hours are also intended to improve the overall efficiency of healthcare delivery in the province.

The new schedule applies to all teaching hospitals under the provincial government, and hospital administrations have been directed to ensure strict compliance.

Officials emphasised that the revised hours would help accommodate a greater number of consultations each day, potentially reducing delays in treatment.

Public health experts welcomed the move, noting that expanded OPD timings could ease pressure on emergency wards, where many non-urgent cases often end up due to limited outpatient availability.

However, they also stressed the importance of adequate staffing to manage the increased operational hours effectively.

The PHD has urged patients to make use of the revised schedule and has assured that all necessary resources will be provided to maintain service quality during the extended timings.