AIIMS Delhi OPD Guide: Registration, Token System & Queue Wait Times

Understanding the AIIMS OPD Flow

AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) Delhi is India's premier government hospital, located in Ansari Nagar. The OPD receives over 10,000 outpatients daily across multiple specialty blocks. The OPD process follows these steps:

• Registration — New patients register at the Central Registration counter near Gate 1 from 8:00 AM. Existing patients use their UHID card at the department-specific counter.
• Token — After registration, collect a token from the specific department's counter. Tokens are distributed on a first-come-first-served basis.
• Wait time — 1.5 to 3.5 hours depending on the department and doctor. Medicine and Cardiology departments have the longest queues.
• Consultation — When your token number is called, proceed to the doctor's room. A companion can accompany the patient inside.
• Pharmacy — AIIMS Amrit Pharmacy offers 50-70% discounts on medicines. Queue can be 30-60 minutes.

Registration at AIIMS costs ₹10 for a new patient card and ₹5 for renewal. Existing patients with a UHID card can proceed directly to the department counter.

AIIMS OPD Timings & Counter Schedule

AIIMS Delhi has multiple OPD blocks with different timings and wait times:

Peak rush is between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM. For high-demand departments (Medicine, Cardiology, Orthopedics, Neurology, Eye), arriving by 6:00-6:30 AM is recommended to secure a low token number.

Appointment vs OPD Token: Two Separate Queues

A common source of confusion at AIIMS is that an appointment and an OPD token/card are two separate processes, often requiring two separate visits:

• Step 1: Taking the Appointment — Book online via the AIIMS website/app (slots are limited and fill quickly) or queue offline. For offline appointments, patients queue as early as 12:00 AM – 2:00 AM. Counters open around 8:30 AM, token distribution around 9:00 AM, with crowds of 500-600+ people common. The outcome is an appointment date for a future visit, not a same-day consultation.
• Step 2: Getting the OPD Token/Card — On the appointment date, the patient must return to AIIMS and stand in a second, independent queue to obtain the OPD token/card. Only after securing this token can the patient proceed to the consultation.

A patient typically needs two separate queue experiences — one for the appointment and one for the OPD token — before seeing the doctor. This is why a companion service is particularly valuable at AIIMS.

Online Booking via ORS Portal

AIIMS offers online appointment booking through the central government's Online Registration System (ORS) portal:

• Visit ors.gov.in and select AIIMS Delhi.
• Use the patient's Aadhaar-linked mobile number to book.
• Slots open 30 days in advance at midnight and fill quickly for popular specialties.
• Online appointments have a separate, faster counter at the hospital that moves approximately 4x faster than general walk-in lines.
• Online appointments reduce but do not eliminate wait times — you still need to register on the day of the visit.

How to Minimize Wait Times Legally

There is no illegal way to "skip" an AIIMS queue — and any service claiming to do so is operating fraudulently. However, there are legitimate ways to reduce wait times:

• Book via ORS portal — secure an Aadhaar-linked appointment slot 30 days in advance. The pre-booking counter is significantly faster than walk-in.
• Send a companion early — a verified companion arrives at the AIIMS RAK OPD building at 7:00 AM, holds queue position at the specific specialty counter (Orthopedics, Medicine, Neurology, Eye, etc.), pays the nominal ₹10 registration fee, collects the consultation card, and calls the patient to arrive around 9:30 AM without standing in line.
• Use Amrit Pharmacy — outlets inside the CNC and IRCH blocks provide cardiac, neuro, and oncology medications at 50-70% discounts. A companion handles the pharmacy line while the patient rests.
• Choose the right block — the CNC and IRCH blocks typically have shorter waits (1-2.5 hours) compared to the main RAK OPD building (2-3.5 hours).

Amrit Pharmacy & Subsidized Medicines

AIIMS hosts Amrit Pharmacy outlets that provide medicines at significant discounts:

• Locations — Amrit Pharmacy counters are inside the CNC (Cardio-Neurosciences Centre) and IRCH (Cancer Oncology Block) buildings.
• Discounts — cardiac, neuro, and oncology medications are available at 50-70% discounts compared to market rates.
• Hours — the Amrit Pharmacy counters are open 24 hours.
• Wait time — pharmacy queues typically take 45-90 minutes. A companion can handle this queue while the patient rests.

AIIMS Campus Layout & Navigation

AIIMS Delhi's campus in Ansari Nagar is large and can be overwhelming for first-time visitors. Key areas:

• RAK OPD Building — the main outpatient department for most specialties (Medicine, Orthopedics, Neurology, Eye, etc.). Central Registration is near Gate 1.
• CNC (Cardio-Neurosciences Centre) — dedicated block for Cardiology and Neurosciences OPD and inpatient care.
• IRCH (Cancer Oncology Block) — dedicated block for Oncology OPD and cancer treatment.
• Emergency Ward — 24/7 emergency services, separate from OPD.
• Diagnostic Centers — laboratories, radiology, and imaging facilities.
• AIIMS Metro Station (Yellow Line) — Exit Gate 2 has a direct underground pedestrian subway to the AIIMS OPD arrival gate.

Free hospital wheelchairs are available at the RAK OPD entrance upon ID deposit. A companion can escort the patient using ramps, lifts, and specialty blocks.

How a Companion Helps at AIIMS

A hospital companion is the most practical solution for AIIMS OPD queue management, especially for elderly patients. Here is what a companion does:

• Arrives at AIIMS RAK OPD building at 7:00 AM to secure an early registration and low token number.
• Completes the registration process (paying the ₹10 fee, collecting the consultation card) while the patient is still at home.
• Notifies the family via WhatsApp when the token is secured and estimates when the patient should arrive.
• The patient arrives 30-60 minutes before their token is called, avoiding 3-5 hours of standing in queues.
• Escorts the patient directly to the consultation room when the token is called.
• Accompanies the patient into the consultation, takes notes, and can connect family via WhatsApp call during the consultation.
• After the consultation, handles the Amrit Pharmacy queue and any diagnostic test coordination.
• Can also collect biopsy blocks, slide packages, and certified MRD treatment summaries from AIIMS Pathology with a patient authorization letter.

This service costs ₹199-559/hour and saves the patient 3-5 hours of standing in queues. For elderly patients, this is not just a convenience — it is a health necessity.

Corelatin is an independent hospital companion service, not affiliated with or endorsed by AIIMS or any other hospital. Companions provide non-medical logistical assistance only.

Frequently Asked Questions