GI OPD

Before 2018, patients with gastrointestinal (GI) and liver issues faced challenges in accessing specialized care. They were often lumped together with other medical conditions in general outpatient slots, resulting in prolonged waiting times and delayed management. This delay not only left patients dissatisfied but also allowed their conditions to potentially worsen.

To address this issue, we established a dedicated GI Out-Patient Department (GI-OPD) on Tuesday mornings, initially with limited space and resources. However, with support from the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Hospital Administration, we expanded our services by repurposing space and increasing staff. The expanded GI-OPD opened its doors on 14th June 2021, significantly boosting our capacity. Previously, we could only accommodate about 400 patients monthly, but now we serve over 1200 patients. The wait time for new patient appointments has also been drastically reduced to less than 10 days compared to 16 weeks before.

In addition to expanding physical infrastructure, we focused on streamlining processes through digitalization. Since 2023, all our services have been digitized, allowing for efficient management of patient records, appointments, and investigations. This digitalization has enabled us to optimize our workflow, particularly in managing endoscopy lists and reducing waiting times for patients' investigations. As the only department in the Ministry of Health with a fully automated digitalized system, we are pioneering advancements in healthcare administration, well ahead of the national implementation of e-Health.

Moreover, we serve as a tertiary referral center for patients with complex GI and liver disorders, including those with inflammatory bowel diseases resistant to traditional treatments, decompensated cirrhosis, and post-liver transplant patients. Our commitment to providing comprehensive and timely care to all patients remains unwavering as we continue to innovate and improve our services.