Bihar Plans AI Call Centre to Help Patients Book Govt Hospital OPD Slots

The State Health Society has also invited bids for a 20-seat integrated 104 call centre to handle health-related grievances, helpline support and medical advice.

Bihar has planned an AI-enabled call centre for government hospitals within the next two months to help patients seek basic health guidance and book outpatient department (OPD) appointments remotely.

The proposed AI Call Centre aims to reduce registration queues and help patients reach the appropriate doctor without unnecessary hospital visits.

The service is expected to connect government hospitals across the state and allow patients to arrange consultations before travelling to a facility.

Through the AI Call Centre, patients will be able to describe their symptoms over a phone call and receive basic information about possible illnesses, symptoms, and treatment options. The service will also help them identify the relevant medical specialist and select a hospital and doctor based on availability.

Once an appointment is booked, patients will receive an allocated OPD time according to the doctor’s schedule. The system is also expected to generate an AI-prepared case history from the call, which patients can print or access online and take to their consultation. This could help organise patient arrivals and reduce congestion at hospital OPDs.

The proposed AI Call Centre builds on Bihar’s broader efforts to digitally connect public healthcare services.

During a State Health Society review meeting in September 2026, Health Minister Nishant Kumar directed officials to digitise patient referrals, integrate the 102 and 108 ambulance services with hospitals and make real-time bed availability accessible through a central dashboard.

PMCH, AIIMS Patna, NMCH and IGIMS were identified for pilot projects involving technology-enabled referrals and hospital coordination.

Officials were also asked to explore linking the state’s 104 health helpline with the national eSanjeevani telemedicine service.

Patients can already book appointments at many public hospitals through the Centre’s Online Registration System (ORS). The proposed AI Call Centre would add another access point to this expanding digital health infrastructure.

Separately, the State Health Society has invited bids for a 20-seat integrated 104 call centre to handle health-related grievances, helpline support and medical advice.

The state has not yet announced a technology partner or a confirmed launch date.

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