KARACHI, July 7 Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed has ordered the extension of an hour in the opening hours of outpatient departments (OPDs) of all the districts, cities and Sindh government's hospitals in the province with immediate effect.

After the directive issued on Wednesday, the OPDs that worked from 9am to 2pm will now be open from 9am to 3pm on weekdays, including Saturdays.

On Fridays the OPDs will work from 9am to 12.30pm, instead of 9am to 12noon.

All the executive district officers (health) and the medical superintendents of Sindh government hospitals have been asked to ensure opening of OPDs of their respective health facilities in line with the new schedule with immediate effect.

OPDs at the Civil Hospital Karachi worked till 3pm on Wednesday, said a source.

The decision to extend the working hours was taken in view of an increasing number of outdoor patients at health facilities throughout the province, said a health department communication.

The minister told the medical superintendents of hospitals to streamline the issuance of token slips to patients so that their waiting time could be shortened.

The medical superintendents were further told to ensure the presence of specialist doctors and consultants at OPDs and display a detailed duty chart of doctors at a prominent place for the convenience of the public.

He also directed the secretary and special secretary of the provincial health department and the director general of the Sindh health department to visit different hospitals to ensure that new OPD timings were observed by the doctors and paramedical and other staff concerned.