How Long Should You Wait to See a Doctor in Nepal? What's Normal and What's Not

The Frustrating Reality of Doctor Wait Times in Nepal

You arrive on time for your 2 PM appointment. The clinic is packed. You check in, take a number, and sit down. By 3 PM, you're still waiting. By 4 PM, you're frustrated. By 5 PM, you're wondering if the doctor forgot about you entirely.

Sound familiar? You're not alone. Long wait times are one of the most common complaints from patients across Nepal, whether in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Biratnagar, or smaller cities. But how long is too long? And more importantly, what can you do about it?

What Are "Normal" Wait Times in Nepal?

While every clinic and hospital is different, here's what patients typically experience:

Walk-In Patients (No Appointment)

• Morning clinics (6-9 AM): 30-60 minutes wait
• Afternoon clinics (2-5 PM): 45-90 minutes wait
• Evening clinics (5-8 PM): 60-120 minutes wait

Why it's longer: Walk-ins are seen after scheduled appointments, and slots fill up based on arrival time.

Scheduled Appointments

• Best case: 10-20 minutes past appointment time
• Average case: 30-45 minutes past appointment time
• Common case: 60-90 minutes past appointment time
• Worst case: 2+ hours past appointment time (unfortunately common)

Reality check: In Nepal, "appointment time" often means "earliest time you might be seen," not "actual time you'll be seen."

Emergency Cases

• Life-threatening: Immediate (as it should be)
• Urgent but stable: 15-30 minutes
• "Emergency" clinics: 30-90 minutes (often just faster outpatient)

Why Are Wait Times So Long in Nepal?

Understanding the causes helps you make better decisions about where and when to seek care:

1. Doctor Shortages

Nepal has approximately 0.7 doctors per 1,000 people (WHO data), far below the recommended 1 doctor per 1,000. In Kathmandu, you might see 2-3 doctors per 1,000, but in rural areas, it drops to 0.1-0.2.

What this means: Popular doctors in cities are overwhelmed with patients. A single doctor might see 50-100 patients per day.

2. Overbooking

Many clinics intentionally overbook appointments, knowing some patients won't show up. The problem? When everyone does show up, wait times explode.

3. Emergencies and Complex Cases

A scheduled 15-minute appointment can turn into 45 minutes if a patient has complicated symptoms. This cascades to everyone waiting after them.

4. Poor Time Management

Some doctors run multiple clinics (morning at Hospital A, afternoon at Hospital B), creating delays when they're late arriving. Others take extended lunch breaks, leaving patients waiting.

5. The "Doctor as Celebrity" Culture

Popular doctors become victims of their own success. As their reputation grows, so does patient demand, but they can't clone themselves.

When Long Wait Times Are a Red Flag

While some waiting is normal, certain situations indicate poor practice:

Your time has value. A doctor who consistently disrespects it doesn't respect you as a patient.

Your Rights as a Patient in Nepal

Many patients don't realize they have rights regarding wait times:

1. Right to Information

You can ask:

• "How long is the current wait?"
• "How many patients are ahead of me?"
• "What time is the doctor expected?"

Clinic staff should provide honest answers, not guesses.

2. Right to Reschedule

If you've waited unreasonably long and need to leave, you can request:

• Priority appointment the next day
• First slot next available session
• Refund of consultation fee (if already paid)

3. Right to File Complaints

For egregious cases (doctor never showed, 4+ hour wait with no communication), you can:

• Complain to hospital administration
• Report to Nepal Medical Council (for serious professional misconduct)
• Leave honest review on platforms like RankSewa (constructive, factual)

How to Minimize Your Wait Time

Strategic decisions can save you hours:

1. Choose Your Timing Wisely

Best times to visit:

• First appointment of the day (doctor is on time, no delays yet)
• Right after lunch break (fresh start, shorter queue)
• Mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday) (fewer patients than Monday/Friday)

Worst times:

• Monday mornings (weekend backup)
• End of day slots (accumulated delays)
• Right before holidays (everyone rushing in)

2. Call Ahead

Before leaving home, call and ask:

• "Is the doctor on time today?"
• "What's the current wait time?"
• "Should I come now or wait 30 minutes?"

This simple call can save you an unnecessary hour in the waiting room.

3. Book Appointments Online (When Available)

More clinics are offering online booking. Benefits:

• See real-time availability
• Get SMS reminders
• Sometimes priority over walk-ins

4. Choose Less Popular Times

If flexibility allows, visit during off-peak hours:

• Late morning (10-11 AM) after morning rush
• Early afternoon (1-2 PM) during lunch
• Weekday mid-mornings

5. Check Reviews for Wait Time Patterns

On RankSewa and other platforms, look for reviews mentioning:

• "Doctor was on time"
• "Minimal wait despite appointment"
• "Saw me within 15 minutes of scheduled time"

Doctors who respect patients' time get consistently praised for it.

How to Evaluate If a Wait Is Worth It

Not all waits are created equal. Consider:

For Specialist Consultations

Worth waiting longer:

• Highly specialized expertise (rare conditions)
• Exceptional patient outcomes (verified success rates)
• Comprehensive consultation (doctor spends 30+ minutes per patient)
• Waiting for surgery/procedure scheduling

Not worth extreme waits:

• Routine follow-ups
• Prescription refills
• Simple diagnoses
• Second opinions

For General Practitioners

If your GP consistently makes you wait 2+ hours, find a new one. General medicine has plenty of qualified doctors who respect your time.

What Clinics Can Do Better

If you're a doctor or clinic manager reading this, here's how to improve:

1. Honest appointment scheduling: Don't book 50 patients for a 3-hour clinic
2. Real-time updates: Text patients when you're running late
3. Buffer time: Build 10-15 minute buffers between appointments
4. Triage system: Quick cases in express lane, complex cases scheduled longer
5. Respect appointment times: Walk-ins only after scheduled patients

Remember: Patients who don't feel their time is valued will find doctors who do value it.

Red Flags vs. Green Flags: Quick Reference

The Bottom Line

In Nepal, some waiting is unavoidable—but chronic, excessive wait times are not acceptable and you don't have to tolerate them.

What's reasonable:

• 30-45 minutes past appointment time occasionally
• 60-90 minutes for walk-in visits
• Delays with honest communication and apologies

What's not reasonable:

• 2+ hour waits consistently
• No explanation or updates
• Doctor showing up hours late regularly
• Dismissive attitude about your time

Your time matters. A good doctor understands this. If your current doctor doesn't, there are others who do.

Share Your Experience

Have you experienced excessive wait times at a clinic in Nepal? When you review doctors on RankSewa, include wait time details in your review—it helps other patients make better decisions:

• What time of day did you visit?
• Did you have an appointment?
• How long did you actually wait?
• Was the wait worth the quality of care?

By sharing real experiences, we can collectively encourage better time management across Nepal's healthcare system.