Health ministry issues interdepartmental referral guidelines for hospitals

NEW DELHI: Citing significant inconsistencies and lack of accountability in the referral process, the Union Health Ministry has for the first time issued interdepartmental referral guidelines for hospitals to facilitate better communication and cooperation.

The ‘Guidelines for Inter-Departmental Referral (within hospitals)’ stress that referrals should be initiated promptly as and when patients require specialised care, diagnostic evaluations or consultations beyond scope of admitting department.

The referral for a consultant’s opinion should only be written by consultants and that post graduate residents should not close referrals on their own without discussing with their consultants, the guidelines released on June 7 stated.