Unique identification numbers for patients at Maharashtra civic hospitals

Patients at civic hospitals will soon be provided with a unique identification number (UID) to create a database of their medical history.

Patients at civic hospitals will soon be provided with a unique identification number (UID) to create a database of their medical history.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will introduce this facility in five civic hospitals - KEM in Parel, Kasturba hospital in Mahalaxmi, Dr RN Cooper hospital in Juhu, Rajawadi hospital in Ghatkopar and Bharatratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar hospital in Kandivili, in the next four months.

The civic body is creating an integrated healthcare system for all the hospitals and dispensaries it runs. In this system, the patient will be given a UID the first time they visit. Post this, the patient can use the number to take an appointment. The number can also be used to look for a patient’s medical history, transfer them, check records etc.

As a medical provider, BMC runs three major hospitals, 16 periphery hospitals in the suburbs and five specialised hospitals for tuberculosis, ENT, eye-care, leprosy and infectious diseases. While the civic body was the to first initiate it in Sion hospital, it has decided to run a pilot in the five hospitals.

The total cost of the project is about Rs 40 lakhs, a senior civic official said. The official said, “We have adopted the model run by private hospitals.With an updated case history available, the management in civic-run hospitals will be much smoother. We should be able to initiate the healthcare system in another four months.”