New Delhi: The All India Institute of Medical Services (AIIMS) has decided to temporarily close down routine walk-in OPD patient registrations, including speciality clinics and all centers, with effect from April 8 to minimize the possibility of community spread of coronavirus and optimize diversion of available manpower and resources for the treatment of affected patients.

It said OPDs/specialty clinics will continue to provide requisite services only for such patients (new and follow-up) having prior appointments.

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"In view of increased need to minimise the possibility of community spread of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and also to optimise diversion of available manpower and materials, resources for the care and treatment of suspected/confirmed patients of COVID-19 disease, it has been decided to temporarily lose down routine walk-in OPD patient registrations, including speciality clinics in AIIMS hospital and all centres with effect from April 8," a communique sent to all chiefs of Centres and Heads of all clinical departments said.

Respective departments may fix the limits of daily new and follow-up patients in the outpatient department (OPD) for the next four weeks, depending on the available strength of residents after contributing to the COVID-19 pool.

Departments in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) main hospital have also been requested to inform the same to faculty-in-charge and OPD services through e-mail, so that computer facility can be intimated for modifications, the communique added.

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