Safdarjung Hospital is set to launch India’s first online ICU follow-up clinic to support patients recovering after discharge from intensive care units (ICUs). The initiative aims to provide continued medical guidance to critically ill patients who often need monitoring even after leaving the hospital.
The online clinic will operate through the government’s eSanjeevani OPD portal, allowing patients and their families to consult doctors remotely from their homes. The service will run every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 am to 11 am.
The new facility will be inaugurated by the hospital’s director Sandeep Bansal. Hospital officials said the move addresses a major gap in India’s healthcare system, where structured follow-up care for ICU survivors is often missing.
According to Anirban Hom, many patients treated in ICUs come from distant regions and face difficulties returning to the hospital for regular check-ups after discharge. Through the online clinic, doctors will be able to evaluate patients’ health conditions, review symptoms, and decide whether treatment can continue locally or if the patient needs to revisit the hospital.
Medical experts say ICU survivors frequently experience physical weakness, cognitive problems, or other complications after leaving the hospital. The new digital follow-up clinic aims to ensure these patients receive timely medical advice and rehabilitation support without the burden of travel.
The initiative is expected to benefit thousands of patients across India, particularly those living in remote areas with limited access to specialized healthcare. Officials believe the model could become a template for similar critical care follow-up services in other government hospitals across the country.