Civil Service Hospital launches online booking for OPD and laboratory services

The Civil Service Hospital in Minbhawan, Kathmandu, has introduced online booking for outpatient department (OPD) appointments and, more recently, for laboratory and radiology tests, so that patients can reserve from home. The aim is to ease the long queues at the hospital, according to reports from Techpana, ICT Samachar and Aarthik News.

OPD appointments

In its report of November 10, Techpana said the hospital announced on social media that patients can book an appointment with a doctor of their choice up to seven days ahead. ICT Samachar also reported the seven-day window and said the service should help elderly patients and people with busy schedules secure their turn before they reach the hospital.

According to Techpana, users sign in on the hospital's website with a mobile number, verified by a six-digit OTP sent by SMS or through the Nagarik App; civil servants have a separate option that uses their PIS code. On first registration they can add details of up to six family members, including themselves. They then enter their symptoms and choose a department or physician. The system shows a NepalPay QR code, and payment must be made within 15 minutes or the booking is cancelled automatically. Once it is paid, a digital ticket or token can be downloaded, and the hospital says patients can follow their turn through the Nagarik App.

Laboratory and radiology tests

Techpana reported on November 13 that the hospital has since added more than 460 laboratory and radiology tests, along with health check-up packages, to booking at booking.csh.gov.np. Aarthik News reported the same. As listed by Techpana, the whole-body Master Health Checkup costs Rs 5,049 and covers 15 tests, among them blood sugar, a complete blood count, a lipid profile, liver and kidney function tests, thyroid tests, an ECG, a chest X-ray and an ultrasound of the abdomen and internal organs. A diabetes package of 11 tests costs Rs 3,080.

Packages for people going abroad for work, study or travel are priced by destination: Rs 1,419 for men and Rs 1,584 for women going to China, Rs 3,157 and Rs 3,322 for South Korea on a study or visit visa, Rs 7,300 for Korea EPS employment and Rs 2,200 for a repeat Korea health examination. For CT scans and MRIs, patients must upload a photo of a doctor's prescription, and the hospital advises booking only the tests a doctor has recommended.

What the reports leave open

In its November 10 report, Techpana said that although the hospital says appointments can be booked up to seven days ahead, its website offered a same-day token and no option to pick a date. ICT Samachar reported the seven-day window without mentioning any such limit.

Techpana also reported that the hospital's older "Civil Service Hospital Nepal" app, built by Midas, does not offer online booking. The hospital website links to the APK of a new CSH app for Android, and booking is also possible through a web link without installing it.