OPD Appointment Guide: AIIMS Bathinda

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bathinda is a centrally funded public hospital located on Mandi Dabwali Road, Bathinda, Punjab. It operates as a full-service tertiary care institution offering outpatient, inpatient, surgical, and diagnostic services across a wide range of specialties. As a central government hospital, treatment charges are heavily subsidised, and patients covered under national and state health schemes can access most services without direct out-of-pocket costs.

Patients can reach AIIMS Bathinda for an OPD consultation either by booking in advance through the national Online Registration System (ORS) at ors.gov.in, or by registering in person at the OPD counter on the morning of the visit. Both routes require purchasing a nominal OPD card, and the same national UHID (Unique Health Identification) number is used for all follow-up visits. Patients who have used AIIMS Delhi or any other AIIMS can use their existing UHID here as well.

Registration and OPD fees at AIIMS Bathinda

AIIMS Bathinda is a central government hospital. Consultation charges are nominal and BPL patients may be eligible for further fee waivers through the Medical Social Service Department.

• OPD registration card (new patient) — Rs. 10 (one-time, valid for 6 months)
• Follow-up visits within 6 months — No additional registration charge
• Diagnostic tests (pathology, radiology) — Charged at government rates; substantially lower than private rates
• Inpatient / surgery charges — Charged at government-approved rates; free or cashless for eligible scheme beneficiaries

Government schemes that help cover treatment

• Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY — Cashless coverage up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation; AIIMS Bathinda accepts this scheme (helpline: 98777-96447)
• Ayushman Bharat – Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana (AB-SSBY / MMSY), Punjab — Punjab state scheme extending PM-JAY coverage; cashless treatment up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year at empanelled government hospitals including AIIMS Bathinda; 1,579 treatment packages covered
• Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) — Central government employees and pensioners in the Chandigarh CGHS zone (which includes Bathinda) can access AIIMS Bathinda under CGHS rates; carry your CGHS card and referral from your CGHS-registered doctor
• Prime Minister's Relief Fund / NIAF — Poor patients facing financial hardship can apply for assistance through the Medical Social Service Department at the hospital
• BPL / economically weaker section patients — May be eligible for reduced or waived charges; bring relevant documents (BPL card, Aadhaar) and approach the Medical Social Service Department at the time of registration

Rates shown are as per the AIIMS Bathinda Official Website (2026) and are subject to periodic revision. Always verify the latest approved rates on the official source.

How to get an appointment at AIIMS Bathinda

There are two ways to register for an OPD consultation. The first is through the national Online Registration System at ors.gov.in — the same portal used by AIIMS Delhi and other AIIMS institutions across India. You create an account using your mobile number (one account supports up to six family members), select AIIMS Bathinda as the hospital, choose a department and an available date, and book a slot. You can also use your ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) ID to log in. Once booked, you will receive a confirmation with a token number. On the day of the appointment, carry a printout or screenshot of the confirmation, your Aadhaar card, any earlier prescriptions, and your UHID if you have visited before.

The second route is a walk-in registration at the OPD counter on the ground floor. Registration for walk-in patients is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM, and on Saturday from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Walk-in patients should aim to arrive early, as daily tokens for each department are limited and the counter closes once the day's slots are filled. Purchase the Rs. 10 OPD card at the counter, and you will be assigned a token for the relevant department. The AIIMS Swasthya App (available from the hospital's official website) allows patients to book appointments and download lab reports digitally.

Tele-consultation (eSanjeevani OPD) is also available for patients who cannot travel; remote consultations run on weekdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

How long it takes to get seen

Patients who book online through ORS and arrive with their token are generally seen faster than walk-in patients without a slot. Walk-in patients at a busy government AIIMS should realistically plan for a half-day or full-day visit, particularly for high-demand departments such as General Medicine, Orthopedics, or Cardiology. Arriving before 8:00 AM on busy weekdays gives walk-in patients the quality chance of securing a token.

Follow-up appointments for patients with an existing UHID are typically quicker to arrange, as returning patients within the 6-month validity period do not need to purchase a new OPD card. Specialty clinic hours for some departments (for example, heart failure clinic, psoriasis clinic, cleft and craniofacial surgery) are scheduled in the afternoon (commonly 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM or 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM), so confirm the specific clinic schedule for your condition before travelling.

What treatment costs and financial help

AIIMS Bathinda is a central government hospital, and all charges — for consultation, diagnostics, and most procedures — are governed by government-approved rate lists that are significantly lower than private hospital rates. The OPD registration card costs Rs. 10 and remains valid for six months, covering return visits at no additional registration charge.

Patients covered under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY or the Punjab state scheme AB-SSBY (now expanded as Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana from January 2026) can receive cashless hospitalisation and surgery at AIIMS Bathinda without paying out of pocket for covered procedures. Central government employees and pensioners registered under CGHS can seek treatment under CGHS-approved rates; Bathinda falls within the Chandigarh CGHS zone.

Patients in financial difficulty who do not hold any scheme card — including BPL families — can approach the Medical Social Service Department at AIIMS Bathinda for assistance from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund, the National Illness Assistance Fund (NIAF), or other government provisions. Carry documentary evidence of financial status when making this request.

Key departments at AIIMS Bathinda

AIIMS Bathinda runs OPD across a broad range of specialties including: General Medicine, General Surgery, Cardiology, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Dermatology, Orthopaedics, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Nephrology, Urology, Psychiatry, Pulmonary Medicine, Endocrinology, ENT, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Paediatric Surgery, Burns and Plastic Surgery, Dentistry, Radiation Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Surgical Gastroenterology, Radiodiagnosis, and Transfusion Medicine.

Diagnostic facilities include pathology, microbiology, biochemistry, CT, MRI, X-ray, and ultrasound. Sample collection on weekdays runs from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and on Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Several departments also run dedicated specialty clinics (for example, a cleft and craniofacial clinic under Burns and Plastic Surgery, a pediatric cardiology clinic, a psoriasis clinic, and a lymphedema clinic); timings for these are available on the OPD Duty Roster page of the official website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I book an OPD appointment at AIIMS Bathinda without visiting in person first?

Yes. You can register and book a slot entirely online through the national ORS portal at ors.gov.in or through the AIIMS Swasthya App, without any prior in-person visit. You will need a mobile number for OTP verification. If you already have an ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) ID, you can use that to log in.

Is the OPD card the same as an appointment token?

They are two separate things. The OPD card (Rs. 10) is a registration document that gives you a Unique Health Identification (UHID) number and remains valid for six months. The appointment token is assigned separately — either through online booking or at the counter on the day — and determines your place in the queue for a specific department and date.

What documents should I carry for my first visit?

Carry your Aadhaar card (original), a printout or screenshot of your online booking confirmation (if applicable), any earlier medical records or prescriptions, and — if you are covered under a government scheme — your scheme card (Ayushman Bharat / SSBY card, CGHS card, or BPL card as applicable). Patients referred from a civil hospital should bring their referral letter.

My family is from Punjab and holds an AB-SSBY / Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana card. Can we use it at AIIMS Bathinda?

AIIMS Bathinda accepts Ayushman Bharat coverage and is a government hospital in Punjab, which means families holding a valid AB-SSBY or Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana card should be able to access cashless hospitalisation for covered procedures. For specific queries about your card's eligibility for a particular treatment, contact the scheme helpline at the hospital (98777-96447, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM) before your admission.

Does AIIMS Bathinda run OPD on Sundays?

No. OPD registration and consultations are available Monday to Friday (registration 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM) and on Saturdays (registration 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM). The emergency department operates 24 hours, 7 days a week. Tele-consultation (eSanjeevani OPD) is available on weekdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

I already have a UHID from AIIMS Delhi. Can I use it at AIIMS Bathinda?

Yes. The UHID is a national identifier shared across all AIIMS institutions. If you have a UHID from any other AIIMS, you can use the same number when registering at AIIMS Bathinda, and your previous records linked to that ID will be accessible to the treating doctor.

Related

• Check your Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) eligibility
• CGHS rate list and how package rates work
• Government Rajindra Hospital Patiala appointment and OPD guide
• Guru Nanak Dev Hospital Amritsar appointment and OPD guide

Medical Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article.

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