LAHORE (Kashmir English): The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday directed the Punjab government to abolish the traditional registration slip system in all government hospitals across the province within four months and introduce an effective alternative mechanism.
In its written order issued on Friday on a petition filed by the Judicial Activism Panel, the court directed authorities to establish a better patient registration and management system to replace the existing procedure.
The court also clarified that patients arriving at hospital outpatient departments (OPDs) should receive immediate medical assistance without being required to obtain a registration slip first.
The Punjab government has been directed to make the necessary administrative arrangements to ensure a smooth transition to the alternative system.
The court further sought a comprehensive report on the availability and quality of basic medical facilities in government hospitals across Punjab and the measures taken to improve them.
The petition has been under hearing since 2020. According to the written order, despite several notices and directions, the relevant authorities have not submitted the required implementation report.
The court expressed concern over the failure to comply with its directions and ordered the submission of a detailed report, warning that action could be taken against officials responsible for unjustified non-compliance.
The traditional slip system requires patients to obtain registration slips from hospital counters before consulting doctors, often resulting in long queues and delays, particularly for elderly and seriously ill patients.
