Odisha Plans Digital Platform for Priority Cancer Care Appointments

Teleconsultation will be available for cancer patients undergoing follow-up treatment. Appointments will be categorised into three types: care, priority diagnosis, and general OPD.

The Odisha government is planning to create a digital platform to enable priority booking of appointments for suspected cancer patients and those undergoing treatment, aiming to reduce long queues and waiting times at major government hospitals.

The initiative will allow patients to book appointments from nearby district headquarters hospitals and visit tertiary care hospitals at designated time slots.

Under the proposed system, patients’ appointments will be booked at district headquarters hospitals. Once an appointment is confirmed, patients can approach tertiary care hospitals at the allotted date and time for consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. The move is expected to reduce unnecessary travel, waiting time, and anxiety among cancer patients about missing OPD consultations or diagnostic services.

As per reports, the National Informatics Centre, a government agency, will develop the digital platform.

“If a doctor at any district headquarters hospital finds any cancer-related symptom in a patient, the doctor or hospital staff will arrange consultation with an oncologist from a tertiary care hospital. If required, the patient will be sent digitally for further course of action,” said an official of the health and family welfare department.

Additionally, Teleconsultation will be available for cancer patients undergoing follow-up treatment. After booking, patients will receive the confirmed date and time for consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Appointments will be categorised into three types: care, priority diagnosis, and general OPD, official sources said.

The tertiary care hospitals included under the system are SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack; MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur; VIMSAR, Burla; Acharya Harihar PG Institute of Cancer, Cuttack; and AIIMS.

These institutions will function as hubs, while district headquarters hospitals will act as spokes for cancer care delivery.

“Patients will not travel to top hospitals without certainty of getting a doctor’s appointment or diagnostic services. After implementation of the digital solution, everything will be booked in advance, ensuring an easy experience at hospitals for cancer patients,” said Susanta Kumar Swain, Additional Director for Non-Communicable Diseases, Health and Family Welfare Department.

The digital platform will also provide information on hospital bed availability, doctors on duty, and diagnostic facilities, official sources said.

Recently, Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling stated that the government is focusing on early diagnosis of cancer.

“Awareness should be created among people about the early signs or symptoms of cancer, so that they can visit nearby hospitals or oncologists and go for further diagnosis and treatment,” he said at a meeting.

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