Delhi hospitals reported a sharp decline in outpatient attendance on Saturday as protests and movement restrictions disrupted travel across the city, although emergency services and major surgeries continued without interruption. The disruption affected patients, hospital staff and private clinics, with some non-urgent procedures postponed because of mobility constraints and concerns over staffing.
At Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, doctors said outpatient department footfall was about 30% lower than usual. The hospital’s central location and restricted movement made it difficult for many patients to reach the facility, while those who arrived also faced problems returning home. Medical staff reported delays in reaching work, with Mother Teresa Crescent serving as the only access route and traffic moving slowly.
A senior doctor at RML said the OPD saw about 30% less crowd and that staff members also arrived late because of slow traffic movement. Another doctor said all pre-planned major surgeries went ahead as scheduled. Patients undergoing those procedures had generally been admitted two to three days earlier, allowing the hospital to maintain the surgical schedule despite the wider disruption.
Safdarjung Hospital reported that patient footfall remained largely normal. Private hospitals and clinics, however, recorded a decline in outpatient attendance. Some practitioners postponed non-urgent procedures because patients and support staff faced uncertainty over travel.
Med First ENT Centre reported a 40-50% fall in OPD footfall. Dr (Major) Rajesh Bhardwaj, the centre’s founder, said consulting rooms remained accessible to patients who arrived, particularly elderly people and those attending follow-up appointments that could not easily be postponed. The clinic scaled back elective and routine procedures to prioritise emergency cover and manage logistics.
No emergency or oncological surgeries were deferred at the clinic, but routine procedures, including septoplasties and tonsillectomies, were postponed. The centre contacted patients with pre-booked appointments a day in advance and rescheduled non-urgent consultations and elective admissions.
PSRI Hospital reported a similar fall in outpatient attendance compared with a typical Saturday. Dr Anju Wali, the hospital’s medical director, described the decline as unexpected and significant, noting that Saturdays are important for patients who seek consultations without taking time off during the working week. She said the hospital was assessing the operational and external factors behind the change while prioritising uninterrupted access to timely healthcare.
The day’s disruption exposed the dependence of routine healthcare access on the city’s transport network. While hospitals were able to protect emergency services and scheduled major surgeries, patients seeking consultations, follow-ups and elective treatment were more vulnerable to road restrictions and delays. Hospitals said they would continue managing appointments and procedures according to access conditions and operational requirements.
