If you are planning a visit to Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH), Madurai, this guide explains the key things patients need to know before reaching the hospital — including OPD registration, appointment options, timings, major departments, specialty services, emergency care, and newer digital booking routes.
Government Rajaji Hospital, affiliated with Madurai Medical College, is one of Tamil Nadu’s major government tertiary-care hospitals and serves patients from Madurai as well as nearby districts. The hospital has around 2,500 beds and provides treatment across general medicine, surgery, specialty, and super-specialty services.
Patients can access routine OPD care through walk-in registration, while digital appointment options are also becoming more important. One of the newer routes is the Nalam AI WhatsApp service, introduced for government hospital appointment support in Tamil Nadu.
GRH has a wide clinical network that includes Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Nephrology, Endocrinology, Medical Gastroenterology, Paediatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Oncology, and several other departments. The hospital also has dedicated facilities such as the Super Specialty Block and Trauma Care Centre.
For routine outpatient visits, the General OPD typically begins from around 7:30 AM, while some specialty clinics start later in the morning or follow their own department schedules. Emergency and casualty services operate separately from routine OPD registration.
This guide will help you understand how to register for GRH Madurai OPD, which department to choose, what timings to follow, how the Nalam AI appointment route works, what documents to carry, and how specialty and emergency services are organized so you can plan the visit with less confusion.
Government Rajaji Hospital OPD 2026: Quick Details
GRH is not limited to one traditional walk-in registration method. Patients may use the hospital counter, Tamil Nadu’s digital appointment route or the Nalam AI WhatsApp booking service, depending on the service available for the required department.
The most useful GRH patient details are:
| GRH Madurai Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Hospital | Government Rajaji Hospital |
| Common name | GRH Madurai |
| Medical college | Madurai Medical College |
| Hospital type | Tamil Nadu Government tertiary hospital |
| Bed strength | About 2,500 beds |
| General OPD | Starts around 7:30 AM |
| Specialty OPDs | Commonly from around 10:00 AM–12:00 noon |
| OPD registration | Walk-in and digital options |
| WhatsApp booking | Nalam AI |
| Nalam AI number | 9619222999 |
| OPD registration fee | No reliable universal fee available |
| Emergency | 24×7 |
| Major facilities | Super Specialty Block, Trauma Care Centre |
| Pay ward | Single and Deluxe rooms available |
The timings above should be treated according to the department being visited. A General Medicine patient and a Medical Gastroenterology patient, for example, may not follow the same consultation schedule.
Government Rajaji Hospital Nalam AI WhatsApp Appointment
Patients visiting Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH), Madurai can also use Nalam AI, the Tamil Nadu government’s WhatsApp-based patient registration service, to start the appointment process digitally. This can be especially useful for patients who want a simpler mobile-based option instead of depending only on hospital-side registration.
The service works through an interactive chatbot, so the exact menu, department availability, and booking flow can change. For that reason, patients should follow the live options shown in WhatsApp rather than depending on old screenshots or a fixed sequence found elsewhere.
To start a GRH Madurai Nalam AI appointment:
- Open WhatsApp and message 9619222999.
- Send “Hi” to begin the chatbot session.
- Follow the registration options displayed on the screen.
- Select the required hospital or patient service when prompted.
- Enter the patient’s actual details carefully.
- Choose the available department or appointment option that matches the medical requirement.
- Review the information before confirming.
- Save the generated booking, token, or registration details for the hospital visit.
When booking for a parent, child, or another family member, use the patient’s details rather than the person operating the phone.
If GRH Madurai or a particular department is not showing in the chatbot at that moment, patients should not select an unrelated hospital or specialty just to create a booking. Availability may depend on the live registration system, department schedule, or current appointment capacity.
After completing the process, keep a screenshot of the Nalam AI confirmation or token along with the patient’s previous prescription, investigation reports, and any referral documents. These records can be useful when reporting at Government Rajaji Hospital for the scheduled OPD visit.
GRH Madurai Online OPD Registration
Government Rajaji Hospital online OPD registration is becoming more accessible as Tamil Nadu expands digital patient services across government hospitals. Depending on the service currently enabled for GRH Madurai, patients may be able to complete part of the registration process before reaching the hospital.
These digital systems are intended to reduce unnecessary queueing and make basic patient registration easier, but the exact options can vary by department and by the live hospital system. Patients should therefore use the current registration screen or chatbot options rather than relying on an older booking method.
A digital GRH registration flow may allow patients to:
- Enter patient identity and contact details
- Select Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai
- Choose the required OPD department
- Receive an OP number, token, or booking reference
- Present the digital registration details at the hospital
- Link the visit with available digital health services where supported
Some registration routes may also offer Aadhaar-linked verification or ABHA-related options under the broader Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission ecosystem. However, patients should not assume that Aadhaar is the only acceptable method for every GRH OPD visit. Use whichever identification and verification choices are offered in the live registration process.
For a new patient, the most important step is choosing the correct GRH department. Returning patients should also check the department and follow-up instructions written on their previous hospital prescription before creating another digital registration.
Government Rajaji Hospital Walk-In OPD Registration
Despite the expansion of digital booking, walk-in OPD registration remains an important route at Government Rajaji Hospital Madurai. Patients who arrive without an online appointment can generally complete registration through the designated OP ticket or patient registration counters and then proceed to the appropriate department.
This option is particularly useful when:
- Nalam AI cannot be accessed
- No digital appointment or token is available
- The required department follows hospital-side registration
- A returning patient has been instructed to report directly for follow-up
- The patient needs a same-day OPD registration
- The patient is unable to complete digital verification
After obtaining the OP ticket or registration details, patients should check the department, token number, and any reporting instructions before moving to the consultation area.
Existing GRH patients should carry their previous OP prescription, registration details, investigation reports, discharge papers, and referral documents whenever applicable. These records may already identify the correct specialty, clinic, or follow-up pathway and can help avoid restarting the case through an unrelated department.
For patients who are unsure whether to use online or walk-in registration, the practical rule is simple: use the digital route when the required department and appointment are available, and use hospital-side registration when the service is unavailable or when the treating department has given a specific return instruction.
Government Rajaji Hospital OPD Timings 2026
The Government Rajaji Hospital OPD generally starts early in the morning, and patients visiting for routine consultation should plan to arrive well before the department becomes crowded. The General OPD begins from around 7:30 AM, while many specialist services operate later in the morning according to their own clinic schedules.
Because GRH Madurai is a large tertiary-care hospital with multiple specialty and super-specialty departments, there is no single OPD timing that applies to every service. Some departments may see patients throughout the morning, while selected specialist clinics may run during a shorter time window.
A practical timing guide is:
| GRH Service | Typical Timing Pattern |
|---|---|
| General OPD | From around 7:30 AM |
| Specialty OPDs | Many services commonly operate around 10:00 AM–12:00 noon |
| Medical Gastroenterology | Commonly around 10:00 AM–12:00 noon, except Sunday |
| Routine Sunday OPD | Generally not available |
| Emergency/Casualty | 24×7 |
| Trauma Care Centre | 24×7 emergency care |
For a first-time OPD visit, reaching the hospital early in the morning is usually the safer option because registration, token issuance, department location, and patient queues can all take additional time.
Patients visiting a specialty department should not assume that the General OPD timing applies to their clinic. Services such as Cardiology, Neurology, Nephrology, Gastroenterology, Oncology, Urology, and other specialties may follow separate days or consultation windows.
Returning patients should give priority to the follow-up date, clinic day, or department instruction written on the previous GRH prescription. If a specialist has asked the patient to return on a particular day, that instruction is usually more useful than relying only on the general hospital timing.
Emergency cases are handled separately. GRH casualty and Trauma Care Centre services operate 24×7, so patients requiring urgent treatment should use the emergency pathway instead of waiting for routine OPD registration.
General OPD vs Specialty OPD at GRH Madurai
GRH has a large multi-specialty structure, so patients should distinguish the General OPD from department-specific specialty clinics.
General OPD begins earlier in the morning and may serve as the first point of consultation for many patients.
Specialty services can have their own clinic periods.
This becomes particularly important for patients already referred to departments such as:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Nephrology
- Endocrinology
- Medical Gastroenterology
- Paediatric Surgery
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Plastic Surgery
- Oncology
If an earlier GRH prescription already names one of these departments, the follow-up should continue through that specialty.
Major Departments at Government Rajaji Hospital Madurai
Government Rajaji Hospital has a broad clinical structure covering general medicine, surgical care and advanced specialties.
Major services include:
- Cardiology
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- General Medicine
- General Surgery
- Obstetrics & Gynaecology
- Paediatric Surgery
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopaedics
- Nephrology
- Endocrinology
- Medical Gastroenterology
- Plastic Surgery
- Oncology
- Psychiatry
- Dermatology & STD
- ENT
- Ophthalmology
- Radiology
- Dentistry
- Siddha
This range is one reason GRH functions as a referral centre for complex cases from southern Tamil Nadu.
GRH Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery
GRH has separate Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery services.
The two should not be treated as the same appointment route.
A patient already under Cardiology should continue with that department unless referred for surgical evaluation.
A patient specifically referred to Cardiothoracic Surgery should follow the surgical specialty rather than registering again under general Cardiology.
GRH Neurology and Neurosurgery
Neurology and Neurosurgery are also separate specialties at Government Rajaji Hospital.
For a returning patient, the department written on the GRH prescription should guide the next registration.
Patients with previous neurological treatment may also need to keep relevant CT, MRI, discharge or procedure records with the existing hospital file where these form part of the ongoing case.
GRH Medical Gastroenterology OPD
Medical Gastroenterology is a dedicated GRH specialty.
The supplied hospital information gives 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon as a typical Medical Gastroenterology OPD period, except Sunday.
Patients already referred to Gastroenterology should continue through that service rather than restarting through General Medicine.
Previous endoscopy, scan or laboratory reports should remain with the patient’s treatment file where relevant.
GRH Nephrology and Endocrinology OPD
GRH has separate Nephrology and Endocrinology services.
A patient undergoing ongoing kidney-related treatment should continue through Nephrology when already registered there.
Likewise, patients referred for specialist endocrine care should use Endocrinology rather than repeatedly returning to the general medical OPD.
The previous prescription is useful because it shows which specialty has taken over the patient’s follow-up.
GRH Paediatric Surgery
GRH includes Paediatric Surgery within its specialist structure.
A child who has already been referred for surgical management should follow Paediatric Surgery rather than assuming every child belongs under a general Paediatrics route.
For post-procedure or post-admission follow-up, the previous GRH record should stay with the same case.
GRH Super Specialty Block
Government Rajaji Hospital has a Super Specialty Block supporting advanced treatment beyond routine General Medicine and Surgery.
Patients transferred to a super-specialty service should follow the specialist department mentioned on their GRH referral or prescription.
This is particularly relevant for patients requiring services such as:
- Cardiology
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Nephrology
- Medical Gastroenterology
- Endocrinology
A super-specialty referral should not be replaced with a fresh general OP registration merely because the general counter opens earlier.
Government Rajaji Hospital Trauma and Emergency
GRH has a dedicated Trauma Care Centre and provides emergency and casualty services 24 hours a day.
Emergency care is separate from routine OPD registration.
Patients needing planned consultation should use the applicable OP registration route, while urgent trauma or emergency cases use the emergency pathway.
This distinction matters because the 7:30 AM General OPD starting time does not limit emergency treatment availability.
Government Rajaji Hospital OPD Registration Fee
A reliable universal 2026 GRH OPD registration fee is not available in the supplied information.
It would therefore be misleading to insert a ₹5, ₹10 or another amount based on charges at a different Tamil Nadu government hospital.
Patients should use the amount, if any, collected through the current GRH OP registration process.
Government Rajaji Hospital Pay Ward Charges
GRH also offers Pay Ward rooms for patients who want additional room amenities during admission.
These room charges are separate from routine OPD registration.
The available rates are:
| GRH Pay Ward Type | Daily Room Charge |
|---|---|
| Single Room | ₹1,200 per day |
| Deluxe Room | ₹2,000 per day |
These charges relate to the room category. They should not be treated as the price of the patient’s complete medical treatment.
Because hospital tariffs can be revised, the current room rate should be confirmed during admission.
CMCHIS at Government Rajaji Hospital
GRH provides treatment to eligible patients under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS).
For eligible Tamil Nadu families, CMCHIS can provide cashless coverage for approved hospitalization and treatment packages.
Scheme use depends on:
- Patient eligibility
- Covered procedure
- Hospital authorization
- Required scheme documents
- Current package rules
Routine OPD registration and insurance authorization are separate processes.
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY at GRH Madurai
GRH also participates in the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) framework together with Tamil Nadu’s state health-insurance arrangements.
Eligible beneficiaries can use applicable scheme coverage for approved hospitalization and treatment packages.
Patients should keep the relevant beneficiary information with the hospital documents if treatment is expected to use a government health scheme.
New Patient vs Follow-Up Patient at GRH
For a new patient, the main job is obtaining the correct OP registration and reaching the appropriate department.
After the first consultation, keep the:
- OP number
- GRH prescription
- Department name
- Tests ordered
- Referral
- Follow-up instruction
For an existing patient, those records can determine whether the next visit belongs in General Medicine, a specialist clinic or a super-specialty department.
A returning patient should therefore avoid discarding an older GRH prescription simply because the prescribed medicines have finished.
Government Rajaji Hospital Private Rooms
Patients looking specifically for private or paid rooms at GRH Madurai should look for the Pay Ward facility.
The available categories include:
- Single Room
- Deluxe Room
The room tariff represents the additional accommodation charge rather than a separate private-hospital treatment tariff.
Availability can depend on admission status and vacant beds.
FAQs
How to Book Government Rajaji Hospital Madurai OPD Appointment in 2026?
Patients can use walk-in registration, the available Tamil Nadu digital appointment system or the Nalam AI WhatsApp service.
How to Book GRH Madurai Appointment Through WhatsApp?
Send “Hi” to 9619222999 on WhatsApp and follow the Nalam AI registration options shown on the screen.
What Is the Nalam AI WhatsApp Number for GRH Madurai?
The number provided for Nalam AI is 9619222999.
What Are Government Rajaji Hospital OPD Timings in 2026?
The General OPD starts from around 7:30 AM. Specialty clinics can follow separate schedules, with some running around 10:00 AM–12:00 noon.
What Are GRH Madurai Specialty OPD Timings?
Specialty schedules differ by department. Medical Gastroenterology, for example, is described as operating around 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon, except Sunday.
Is Government Rajaji Hospital OPD Open on Sunday?
Routine specialty OPDs may not operate on Sunday. Emergency and casualty services remain available 24×7.
Is Government Rajaji Hospital Madurai Open 24 Hours?
The hospital’s Emergency, Casualty and Trauma Care services operate round the clock. Routine OPD services follow separate schedules.
What Is the Government Rajaji Hospital OPD Registration Fee?
A reliable universal 2026 OPD registration fee is not available in the supplied information. Use the amount, if any, charged through the current hospital registration process.
Does GRH Madurai Have Online OPD Registration?
Digital registration options are available within Tamil Nadu’s government hospital system, including Nalam AI and Aadhaar/digital-health-linked appointment services where supported.
Can I Visit GRH Madurai Without Online Booking?
Yes. Walk-in OPD registration remains available.
Does Government Rajaji Hospital Have Cardiology?
Yes. GRH has a dedicated Cardiology service.
Does GRH Madurai Have Cardiothoracic Surgery?
Yes. Cardiothoracic Surgery is separate from Cardiology.
Does GRH Madurai Have Neurology and Neurosurgery?
Yes. Neurology and Neurosurgery are separate specialties.
Does Government Rajaji Hospital Have Nephrology?
Yes. Nephrology is available as a specialist service.
Does GRH Madurai Have Medical Gastroenterology?
Yes. Medical Gastroenterology has a dedicated specialty OPD.
Does Government Rajaji Hospital Have Paediatric Surgery?
Yes. Paediatric Surgery is included among GRH’s specialist departments.
Does GRH Madurai Have a Trauma Care Centre?
Yes. Government Rajaji Hospital has a dedicated Trauma Care Centre.
Does Government Rajaji Hospital Accept CMCHIS?
Eligible patients can access approved treatment packages through CMCHIS, subject to current scheme eligibility and authorization.
Is Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Available at GRH Madurai?
Eligible patients can use applicable PM-JAY coverage for approved treatments under the current scheme framework.
What Are Government Rajaji Hospital Pay Ward Charges?
The available rates are ₹1,200 per day for a Single Room and ₹2,000 per day for a Deluxe Room.
Are Private Rooms Available at Government Rajaji Hospital Madurai?
Yes. GRH has Pay Ward accommodation, including Single and Deluxe room categories.
Government Rajaji Hospital OPD Appointment in 2026
For a Government Rajaji Hospital Madurai OPD appointment in 2026, patients have more than one registration route. Walk-in OP registration remains available, while the Nalam AI WhatsApp service at 9619222999 provides a convenient digital option for supported government hospital appointments.
The General OPD starts from around 7:30 AM, while specialty clinics can follow later department-specific schedules. Patients already under Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Nephrology, Endocrinology, Medical Gastroenterology, Paediatric Surgery or another specialist department should use the follow-up route written on their existing GRH records.
For emergencies, the hospital’s Trauma Care Centre and casualty services operate 24×7. GRH also provides government-scheme treatment for eligible patients and offers Pay Ward accommodation for admitted patients who need additional room amenities.
The source supplied for this article supports the Nalam AI WhatsApp booking route, GRH OPD timing pattern, specialty departments, Pay Ward rates, government-scheme information and 24×7 emergency setup.