RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC) has clarified that its new appointment-based outpatient department (OPD) system, set to take effect on November 1, 2026, will not affect emergency services, as heart patients requiring urgent medical care will continue to be treated round the clock without prior appointments.
In a clarification issued to address concerns about the new arrangement, the hospital said the appointment requirement would apply only to OPD consultations and would not restrict access to emergency treatment.
The RIC also said separate clinics would continue to accommodate patients arriving without appointments during the initial phase of the new system. No patient would be sent back without a medical examination, it added.
The hospital said the new arrangement was aimed at reducing long queues and waiting times while improving the quality of consultations. Patients would be able to see their doctors at scheduled times, making visits more organised and convenient.
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The system is also expected to facilitate follow-up consultations for patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or angioplasty (PCI), allowing them to consult their respective cardiac surgeons or cardiologists while saving time and travel expenses.
The RIC has urged patients to book their OPD appointments before visiting the hospital and invited feedback through its official complaint cell and Facebook page.
