Berhampur: The urban primary health centre at Red Cross in Berhampur has launched a 12-hour outpatient department (OPD), becoming the first govt-run healthcare facility in Odisha to do so on a pilot basis. It’s around eight hours in most hospitals now.Under the initiative, OPD services in medicine, gynaecology and paediatrics would be available from 8 am to 8 pm every day, officials said.Berhampur MLA K Anil Kumar inaugurated the extended OPD service on Thursday in the presence of BeMC mayor Sanghamitra Dalei, commissioner A Sasya Reddy, health officials and corporators. “With the 12-hour OPD, residents would be able to access healthcare services more conveniently,” said the MLA.Officials expect the facility to reduce patient pressure on MKCG Medical College and Hospital and City Hospital, both of which cater to a large number of patients from Berhampur and neighbouring districts. The six-year-old UPHC had earlier operated its OPD for only six hours daily, from 8 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 8 pm. “As part of the govt’s programme to extend OPD services to 12 hours, we have doubled the duration of operations at Red Cross UPHC,” said Lambodar Digal, city programme officer for UPHCs.To support the expanded schedule, an additional doctor, three staff nurses and two pharmacists have been deployed. Specialist clinics in medicine, gynaecology and paediatrics would function daily from 11 am to 2 pm, Digal said.BeMC commissioner A Sasya Reddy said the initiative has been launched on a pilot basis and could be extended to other UPHCs depending on its success. “More specialist clinics would also be introduced based on public demand,” she said.Berhampur has eight UPHCs functioning under National Health Mission. Red Cross UPHC currently records an average daily footfall of around 120 patients and also provides several diagnostic services, officials said.