The health and family welfare department of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration on Wednesday opened a help desk at North Bengal Medical College & Hospital (NBMCH) on Siliguri’s outskirts.

The help desk will be operational 24/7 and provide information related to healthcare services of various departments in NBMCH.

GTA chief executive Anit Thapa and Siliguri Municipal Corporation mayor Gautam Deb inaugurated the facility in presence of officials of the Darjeeling district administration and the state health department.

Thapa, while speaking at the event, said during the Covid-19 pandemic, people from remote parts of the hills, who had rushed for treatment in Siliguri, were exploited by some ambulance drivers.

Instead of being taken to NBMCH, the patients were taken to private clinics and nursing homes where they had to shell out hefty amounts for treatment.

“The state government provides free medical facilities in NBMCH and people across the hills should avail the service. The help desk has been opened to assist patients in their treatment and help them reach out to different departments in a hassle-free manner,” said Thapa.

Sources said that the GTA would engage eight employees at the desk. They will work in shifts and help patients, especially those coming from the hills, on various issues related to healthcare.

“NBMCH authorities will provide them week-long training on how to liaison with the heads of all departments as well as other hospital formalities. They will ensure that any patient approaching the desk is sent to the department concerned for treatment without delay,” said the source.

The GTA also released two helpline numbers of the desk — 97353 88000 and 97354 88000.

NBMCH is the largest state-run referral hospital in north Bengal where 4,000 patients come to the outpatient departments every day, said a source.

Mayor Deb, also chairman of the patient welfare committee at NBMCH, appreciated the initiative.