You do not need an appointment to see a doctor in the outpatient department of a Tamil Nadu government hospital. You walk in during OP hours, register at the counter, collect an OP card and wait for your turn, and consultation in the general OP is free. What changed this year is that you can now register online before you leave home at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) and Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, and skip the longest queue of the morning.
The state health department launched ABDM-enabled online OP registration at the two hospitals and a few other medical colleges on 26 June 2026, with plans to extend it to all government hospitals in phases. You scan a QR code or use the portal, get a token number, and show it at the counter for your OP card. Manual registration continues for anyone who cannot use a phone.
Before you start
| Document | Who needs it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Old OP card or number | Returning patients | Speeds up registration; ask for a revisit counter |
| Referral letter | Patients sent by a PHC or another hospital | Helps you reach the right speciality OP |
| Earlier reports and prescriptions | Everyone with a history | Doctors ask what medicines you already take |
| Phone with ABHA app | Those using QR registration | First-time visitors must register through the QR code |
| Aadhaar or other ID | Everyone | Useful for registration and for any insurance paperwork later |
Source: National Institute of Siddha OPD page
How to get seen in the OP
- Pick the right hospital. For a first problem, a nearby Urban Primary Health Centre or government hospital is quicker than a medical college hospital. Go to a medical college hospital such as RGGGH, Stanley or Kilpauk when you have a referral or need a specialist.
- Check OP hours. Hospitals under the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services run OP from 7.30 am to 12 noon on all days, and 3 pm to 5 pm except Sundays and government holidays, according to the health department citizen charter. Emergency care runs 24×7.
- Register online if you can. At RGGGH and Kilpauk, scan the QR code displayed by the hospital or use the portal from home. You will get a token number, according to the department.
- Or join the counter queue early. Arrive before 7.30 am at busy hospitals. First visits and revisits often have separate counters; the National Institute of Siddha in Tambaram, for example, uses a new counter for first visits and the old counter for revisits.
- Collect your OP card. Show the token or give your details at the counter. Keep the OP card for every later visit, test and pharmacy collection.
- Go to the speciality OP. Wait at the department named on your card. Doctors in the digital system record prescriptions, diagnoses and lab tests online.
- Finish tests and pharmacy the same day. Sample collection usually closes by noon, so go straight to the lab after the consultation, then collect medicines from the hospital pharmacy.
Fees and timings
General OP consultation and medicines in Tamil Nadu government hospitals are free. Some hospitals also run a separate paid OP with shorter waits. Timings vary by institution, so check the hospital’s citizen charter.
| Hospital | OP hours | Charges |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitals under the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services | 7.30 am to 12 noon daily; 3 pm to 5 pm except Sundays and holidays | General OP free |
| Tamil Nadu Government Dental College and Hospital | 7.30 am to 12 noon, all days including Sundays and holidays | Not listed in charter |
| National Institute of Siddha, Tambaram (central) | 8 am to 12 noon, all 365 days; paid evening OP 5 pm to 7 pm, Mon to Fri | Registration ₹20 first visit, ₹10 revisit; general OP treatment free |
Source: TN Health Department Citizen Charter 2019-20; TNGDCH citizen charter; NIS OPD page
At RGGGH and Kilpauk, registering by QR code before you arrive gets you a token number to show at the counter, the health department said in June 2026.
Common mistakes
It’s often said you need a doctor’s recommendation or a contact to get an OP slot at a government hospital.
In fact The general OP is open to anyone who registers during OP hours; a referral only helps you reach the right speciality.
- Arriving after 11 am. OP registration closes around noon at most hospitals and labs stop collecting samples.
- Leaving old reports at home. Doctors repeat tests they cannot see.
- Losing the OP card. Revisits, scans and the pharmacy all ask for it.
If it goes wrong
Every government hospital keeps a complaint box, and serious complaints go to an inquiry officer, according to the citizen charter. Ask for the Resident Medical Officer (RMO) on duty if you are turned away from the OP or emergency. For health advice before you travel, call the 24-hour 104 helpline. In an emergency, go straight to casualty; it does not wait for OP hours.
This is general information. For a medical problem, follow your doctor’s advice on which department to see.
Quick answers
Can I book a specific doctor online at a Chennai government hospital?
No. The new system registers you for the OP and gives a token; you see the doctor on duty in that department.
Is OP consultation free?
Yes. General OP consultation and treatment in Tamil Nadu government hospitals is free. Some hospitals run a separate paid OP.
What time should I reach RGGGH?
OP registration opens at 7.30 am. Online registration by QR code reduces your wait at the counter.
Do I need ABHA?
Not for the manual counter. The online route is ABDM-enabled, and first-time users must register through the QR code.
Information checked against official sources on 19 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Citizen’s Charter 2019-20, Health and Family Welfare Department (Government of Tamil Nadu)
- Citizen Charter, Tamil Nadu Government Dental College and Hospital
- Out Patient Department, National Institute of Siddha, Tambaram Sanatorium
- ABDM press note on ABHA and Scan and Share (National Health Authority, abdm.gov.in)
- Press Release No. 646 on the 104 helpline, 6 May 2024 (DIPR, Government of Tamil Nadu)
