I RECENTLY went to get an appointment for a relative with a specialist doctor in Hyderabad. When I arrived at his private clinic, there were many already waiting for their turn. After about an hour, the receptionist gave me an appointment of four days later, but did not specify the time.

I felt it a bit strange, but could not argue because of the many others who were waiting behind me to get the attention of the receptionist.

On the appointed day, I arrived at the clinic at 8am, but had to wait for 45 minutes to get my number in the queue. My appointment number was 15, and I was told that it would be called at around 1pm. I went home, picked up the patient, and returned at around 12.30pm only to find that the patient being seen by the doctor at the time was the holder of Token No 3.

We waited for nearly three more hours, and my number was called at 3.40pm. I heaved a sigh of relief, thinking the ordeal was over, but I was wrong. I was actually called to see the compounder, who simply handed me a slip for medical tests and told me to get them done at a specific laboratory.

I had no choice. I went to the lab and became part of another long queue. We finally got the test results at 8pm, returned to the clinic, and waited for our turn, which came after 8.30pm; after four days of anticipation and over 12 hours of waiting. What kind of clinical practice is this?

Talat Aziz
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2025