OPD Appointment Guide — Sarojini Naidu Medical College and Hospital, Agra

Sarojini Naidu Medical College and Hospital (commonly called SN Medical College or SNMC) in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, is one of the oldest medical institutions in India, tracing its origins to 1854. Today it operates as a 976-bed tertiary-care teaching hospital attached to the medical college, drawing patients from Agra city as well as from adjacent districts and parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The hospital manages more than four lakh OPD visits and roughly 39,000 indoor admissions each year.

As a government institution under the Ministry of Medical Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh, SN Medical College Hospital charges a nominal OPD registration fee and provides heavily subsidised or fully free treatment to eligible beneficiaries under national and state health schemes. The hospital runs an Out Patient Department with numerous functional specialty clinics across both general and super-specialty disciplines, and provides round-the-clock emergency and trauma care.

Registration and OPD fees at SN Medical College and Hospital, Agra

All fees quoted here are indicative of UP government hospital norms. Confirm exact current amounts at the registration counter or from the official hospital website before visiting.

• OPD registration (token) fee — Nominal — confirm the current amount at the OPD registration counter or the hospital's official portal (snmcagra.ac.in). Government hospitals in Uttar Pradesh typically charge a token registration fee of a few rupees.
• Consultation charge — Consultation with the duty doctor or resident is included in the OPD registration. Specialist consultations within the OPD are generally covered by the same token.
• Investigations (pathology, radiology) — Subsidised government rates apply. Charges vary by test; BPL card holders and scheme beneficiaries may receive further concession or free investigations — confirm at the relevant department counter.
• Medicines from hospital pharmacy — Essential medicines are dispensed at subsidised rates through the hospital pharmacy. Beneficiaries enrolled under PM-JAY or MMJAA receive cashless medicines for covered procedures.

Government schemes that help cover treatment at SN Medical College Hospital

• Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY — SN Medical College Hospital is empanelled under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). Eligible beneficiaries from SECC 2011 listed households receive up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for cashless secondary and tertiary hospitalisation covering surgery, medicine, and diagnostics.
• Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan (MMJAA) — UP state scheme — Uttar Pradesh funds this companion scheme for families who meet the same deprivation criteria as PM-JAY but were not included in the SECC 2011 list. Benefits are equivalent to PM-JAY — up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year cashless. Helpline: 1800-1800-4444 / 14555.
• CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme) — Central government employees and pensioners holding a valid CGHS card may be entitled to treatment at government hospitals including teaching hospitals. Agra is covered under CGHS. Confirm current empanelment status with the hospital's billing section or at cghs.mohfw.gov.in.
• BPL / Antyodaya card holders — Patients holding a valid Below Poverty Line (BPL) or Antyodaya card may be eligible for free or heavily subsidised treatment and medicines at the OPD and for admitted patients. Produce the card at the registration counter.

Rates shown are as per the Sarojini Naidu Medical College, Agra (Ministry of Medical Education, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh) (2024) and are subject to periodic revision. Always verify the latest approved rates on the official source.

How to get an OPD appointment at SN Medical College and Hospital, Agra

SN Medical College Hospital operates primarily as a walk-in OPD. There is no confirmed online appointment booking system on the hospital's own portal at the time of writing — the official OPD schedule page (snmcagra.ac.in/opd_schedule.html) lists department timings and the roster of doctors but does not offer an online slot booking. Patients should check the official website or contact the hospital directly for any updates to this arrangement.

To be seen in OPD, arrive early in the morning — ideally by 8:00 AM — at the main registration counter of the hospital. Collect a numbered token for the department you wish to visit. Bring a valid photo identity document (Aadhaar card is widely accepted), any previous medical records or prescriptions relevant to your condition, and your health scheme card if you hold one (Ayushman card, CGHS card, or BPL card). After registration you will be directed to the relevant department's OPD waiting area.

If you are visiting for a follow-up, retain your OPD slip from the previous visit — it speeds up registration. First-time patients requiring a super-specialty consultation (for example Cardiology, Neurology, or Nephrology) are typically referred first through the general OPD or emergency, which then routes to the super-specialty clinic.

• Arrive early — tokens can run out by mid-morning on busy days.
• Carry Aadhaar or other photo ID, previous records, and scheme card.
• Emergency cases are attended at the 24x7 trauma and emergency unit — do not queue at the regular OPD counter.
• Confirm the OPD schedule for your department on the day of visit, as specialist rosters rotate.

How long it takes to get seen

SN Medical College Hospital sees over four lakh outpatients a year, which means OPD mornings are busy. Waiting times at the registration counter and then at the departmental OPD can range from one hour to several hours depending on the day, the department, and how early you arrive. Arriving before 9:00 AM generally reduces waiting time significantly.

Complex cases may require multiple visits — a first OPD visit for initial assessment, a second for investigation results, and a third for treatment planning. For elective surgical procedures, there is typically a waiting list; the treating department will advise the expected timeline after your OPD assessment.

Patients presenting through the 24x7 emergency department are triaged and seen without a standard OPD queue, which is the appropriate route for urgent or serious conditions.

What treatment costs and financial help is available

As a government teaching hospital, SN Medical College Hospital provides care at a fraction of the cost of private hospitals. The registration fee is nominal, diagnostic investigations are at subsidised government rates, and surgical procedures follow prescribed government tariff schedules rather than market rates.

Beneficiaries enrolled under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY or the UP state companion scheme MMJAA are entitled to cashless treatment for covered procedures — the hospital claims the costs directly from the scheme. To use your Ayushman card, present it at the hospital's Ayushman help desk or the admissions desk at the time of hospitalisation. For OPD-only visits, standard OPD charges apply even for scheme beneficiaries, as PM-JAY primarily covers inpatient care.

Patients without any scheme card who hold a BPL ration card should present it at registration to explore available concessions. For medicines, the hospital pharmacy dispenses at controlled rates; Jan Aushadhi Kendras or government pharmacy counters, where available, offer further savings on generic medicines.

Key departments at SN Medical College and Hospital

The hospital offers both general and super-specialty OPD services. The main clinical departments include General Medicine, General Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Orthopaedics, Dermatology and Venereology, Psychiatry, Ophthalmology, ENT and Head-Neck Surgery, Pulmonary Medicine and TBC, Radiodiagnosis, Radiotherapy, Anaesthesiology, and Community Medicine.

Super-specialty services with dedicated OPD clinics include Cardiology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Nephrology, Urology, Medical Gastroenterology, Surgical Gastroenterology, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS), Plastic Surgery, Paediatric Surgery, Endocrinology, and Rheumatology. The hospital also operates an Eye Bank, Blood Bank, dedicated ICUs, and Operation Theatres.

The Head-Neck super-specialty OPD within the ENT department runs on specific days of the week (Wednesday and Friday, per the December 2023 OPD roster). Confirm current day-wise schedules at the official OPD schedule page or at the department counter, as rosters are updated periodically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I book an OPD appointment at SN Medical College Agra online?

As of the information available, SN Medical College Hospital does not operate a confirmed public-facing online appointment booking portal. The hospital's website (snmcagra.ac.in) publishes the OPD schedule, but walk-in registration at the counter remains the standard route. Check the official website for any updates to online booking arrangements before your visit.

What documents should I carry for OPD registration?

Carry a valid photo identity document (Aadhaar card is the most commonly accepted), any previous medical records or prescriptions related to your condition, and your health scheme card if applicable — Ayushman card, CGHS card, or BPL/Antyodaya card. Retaining your OPD registration slip from prior visits helps with follow-up registration.

Is SN Medical College Hospital empanelled under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY?

Yes. SN Medical College and Hospital, Agra is empanelled under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, which provides up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for cashless inpatient treatment of covered conditions. Eligible beneficiaries should present their Ayushman card at the hospital's Ayushman help desk at the time of admission. You can verify empanelment and check your eligibility at beneficiary.nha.gov.in or by calling the PM-JAY helpline at 14555.

What if I am not on the PM-JAY list — is there any other scheme?

Uttar Pradesh runs the Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan (MMJAA), a state-funded scheme with the same Rs 5 lakh cashless benefit, specifically for families who match PM-JAY eligibility criteria but were missed in the SECC 2011 database. Contact the helpline at 1800-1800-4444 or visit ayushmanup.in to check eligibility.

What are the OPD hours at SN Medical College Hospital?

The hospital operates morning OPDs; based on the OPD schedule published on the official website, the registration counter opens early in the morning and OPD consultations run through to the early afternoon, broadly Monday to Saturday. Exact department-wise timings and day-wise doctor rosters are published at snmcagra.ac.in/opd_schedule.html — confirm these before your visit as schedules are updated periodically. Emergency services run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

I need a super-specialty consultation (for example, a cardiologist or neurologist). Can I go directly to that OPD?

Super-specialty OPDs at teaching hospitals typically require a referral slip from the general OPD or a prior assessment by the relevant department. If you are visiting for the first time, register at the main OPD, inform the registration staff of the department you need, and they will guide you. Patients already seen and referred by a doctor in a previous visit can usually proceed directly to the super-specialty OPD with their referral slip.

Related

• How to find an Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) hospital near you
• Government health schemes in India: a guide
• King George Medical University appointment and OPD guide
• RML Institute of Medical Sciences Lucknow 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.