Patient Self-Help Guide

Before You Call a Medical Centre

Keep the patient’s age, symptoms, location, previous reports and urgency ready. Decide whether you need routine OPD, emergency care, diagnostic test, admission, surgery consultation or follow-up.

What to Ask on the Phone

1. Is the required department available today? Example: cardiology, gynecology, pediatrics, orthopedics.
2. Is the doctor available? Ask by doctor name if you have one.
3. What is the current consultation fee? Ask first visit, follow-up and payment method.
4. Do I need an appointment? Ask walk-in/token/online booking and reporting time.
5. What documents should I bring? Ask ID, reports, old prescription, referral and insurance.
6. Is emergency care available? If urgent, ask if the emergency department is functional now.

Before You Visit

• Save the centre’s phone number and map location.
• Carry original reports and photocopies if required.
• Reach early if token-based OPD is used.
• Confirm whether fasting is needed for blood tests or scans.
• Ask whether the patient should avoid food/water only if instructed by the centre.

Billing, Insurance and Cashless Checklist

For planned admission or procedure, contact the billing/TPA desk before admission. Ask whether your insurance is accepted, which documents are required, whether pre-authorisation is needed, what is excluded and whether co-pay applies.

When to Consider a Second Opinion

Consider a second opinion for major surgery, cancer treatment, long-term medicines with serious side effects, expensive procedures, unclear diagnosis, repeated treatment failure or when you do not understand the risk/benefit clearly.

After the Visit

• Keep prescription, bill, reports and discharge summary safely.
• Understand medicine timing, side effects and follow-up date.
• Ask what symptoms require emergency return.
• Do not ignore worsening symptoms after a consultation.