SKIMS urges people to use online payment, appointment services

Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Oct 29: SKIMS authorities today urged people to use available online services for appointments, payments, and collection of investigation reports to reduce congestion and streamline services. Speaking with reporters after the first public darbar held to address issues faced by patients and their attendants, Medical Superintendent of SKIMS, Soura, Dr. Farooq Jan, stated that common complaints brought to light included long queues, security arrangements, and the newly enforced limited visiting hours.

“We informed the public of the steps we’ve taken to resolve these issues, patients don’t need to come here to book appointments, stand in queues to make payments, or come in to collect test reports-these services are available online,” he said. He also shared that soon people will no longer need to visit in person to get an OPD ticket, as they’ll be able to obtain it from home. “All these measures are in place, and if people begin using them, as many are unaware, it will reduce congestion and streamline the services provided,” he said.



Dr Jan said SKIMS is in the process of having Help Desks to facilitate patients. Regarding limited visiting hours, Dr. Jan noted that this policy was already in place but has now been strictly enforced.

“It has been done to prevent the spread of infection,” he said, urging the public to use online services. Director SKIMS, Dr. Ashraf Ganie, who organized the inaugural public darbar, said that he has developed a vision document to improve research, training, and patient care at the premier hospitals of J&K.

“Among other steps, I prioritized decongesting the emergency area, introducing triage, creating a separate pediatric emergency, and launching a dedicated lab that operates round the clock,” he said. He emphasized the importance of public feedback in improving patient services at SKIMS, Soura. “It’s not that everything is perfect.

We need to streamline services and enhance doctor-patient interaction, and public feedback is essential to this process,” he said. “We’ve made all tests available in the emergency department, and the labs work round the clock. Additionally, test reports are provided quickly as we adjust services according to needs,” he added.

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