SHENZHEN residents can now register and make appointments with the Shenzhen No. 2 People’s Hospital by phone, the hospital said in a release yesterday.
Registration and appointments can be made by text messaging or calling, the hospital said.
The system applies to the four departments at the hospital — integrated Chinese traditional and Western medicine, dermatology, traditional Chinese medicine and special medical treatment.
Patients can register in two ways. The first is to dial 1258006, after which callers will be prompted to provide information. The other way is via text message by dialing #120#.
The Ministry of Health has required all Class III hospitals to make phone appointments and registration available beginning October.
According to China Mobile (Shenzhen), only China Mobile service users can make phone appointments. Others can make online appointments by going to http://gh.szhealth.gov.cn.
Two registrations per day are allowed from one phone number. Appointments made by phone must be within two days of the call, according to the hospital.
Registration and consultation fees will be charged to the phone. Patients will receive a confirmation message with a bar code, which patients need to input into a service terminal at the hospital for a printed registration note.
For the time being, fees are nonrefundable if a patient misses an appointment.
Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and Shenzhen Eyes Hospital are also considering mobile phone registration, according to Nanfang Daily.
Most hospitals in Shenzhen provide online registration reservation.
The same service is also available in other cities, such as Beijing, Guangzhou and Chongqing. (Li Hao)