BMU Brings Booking Breakthrough: Online Ticketing to Ease Patient Waits
To ease the long queues and waiting times faced by patients seeking consultations, Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) has launched an online ticketing service for its outpatient department (OPD). Through this system, patients can complete payments online via the university’s official website — bmu.ac.bd — print their tickets, and consult doctors at scheduled times.
The initiative was formally inaugurated on Wednesday, 29 October, at the university’s Shaheed Dr. Milton Hall following the signing of an online payment agreement between BMU and Pubali Bank. The new service is expected to eliminate the need for patients to wait long hours at the hospital before receiving medical advice.
Speaking at the event, BMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam said, “The online ticketing system has been introduced in response to the country’s needs. Any nation’s healthcare system should always be people-centric. Education and research are for the benefit of the people, and this university was built for them. We have long been thinking about how to reduce patients’ waiting time. This system will significantly lessen their suffering and enable them to consult doctors at their preferred times. Gradually, everything will become digitized.”
He further stated, “We want to shift the waiting time from the hospital or chamber to the patient’s home. There will be no need to wait at the hospital. However, some initial challenges may arise, and overcoming them will require everyone’s cooperation.”
The Vice-Chancellor also urged support from journalists and the media, saying, “If you present this initiative positively, BMU’s effort will surely succeed. Most patients are satisfied with BMU’s medical services, but the long queues and hours of waiting to buy tickets or see doctors cause them distress. Today’s initiative aims to relieve that suffering.”
The event was conducted by BMU Registrar Professor Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam. Among others, BMU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Development) Professor Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman Hawlader, Treasurer Professor Dr. Nahreen Akhtar, Proctor Dr. Sheikh Farhad, ICT Cell Director Professor Dr. A.K.M. Akhtaruzzaman, and Pubali Bank Managing Director and CEO Mohammad Ali also spoke at the program.
