PGH Online Appointment Guide 2026: How to Book at Philippine General Hospital

Quick Answer: New patients at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) have two official ways to get an OPD appointment: apply online through OCRA (Online Consultation Request and Appointment System) at pghopd.up.edu.ph, or walk in to Counter-C at the OPD Admitting Section with a valid ID. Only a valid ID is needed for a first-time registration — a referral letter is required for other transactions, like transfers, not for a new patient's first visit.

About this guide: Steps below come from each facility's own Citizen's Charter, official website, or dated official schedule flyers as of August 2026. Processes change — the contact numbers in each section are the authoritative check.

Table of Contents

• What is OCRA?
• How to book a PGH appointment online through OCRA
• How to get an appointment by walking in
• What do you need to register as a new patient?
• Do minors need anything extra?
• Is a referral letter required?
• How to contact PGH's OPD
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

What Is OCRA?

OCRA stands for the Online Consultation Request and Appointment System, PGH's official channel for new patients who want to request an OPD consultation without going to the hospital first. It's documented in the UP-PGH Citizen's Charter (January 2024 edition) as one of two formal paths into PGH's outpatient department — the other being the in-person walk-in route through Counter-C, covered below.

The system exists because PGH is a tertiary government hospital handling extremely high patient volume. Rather than requiring every new patient to physically line up to even find out which clinic they need, OCRA lets the hospital's own staff review a request first and route it to the right specialty clinic before the patient shows up. That distinction matters: OCRA is a request-and-routing system, not an instant-booking calendar where you pick your own date and time slot.

If you're not sure whether you need PGH specifically or another government facility might work, it's worth checking our guide to finding a government hospital near you before starting either process below.

How to Book a PGH Appointment Online Through OCRA

The Citizen's Charter describes the online path as a request that moves through PGH's own records and clinic-assignment process rather than a self-service booking calendar:

1. Go to pghopd.up.edu.ph and register your request with your basic information and the reason for your visit.
2. PGH's OPD Health Records office reviews the submission and checks whether you already have an existing case number on file with the hospital.
3. Your details are encoded into PGH's Electronic Records Platform (ERP), the internal system the hospital's clinics use to manage patient records.
4. The assigned clinic contacts you directly to schedule either a teleconsultation or a face-to-face appointment, depending on what your case needs.

Because the clinic reaches out to you rather than the system generating an instant confirmation, OCRA works best if you register with accurate, reachable contact details. The Citizen's Charter doesn't specify a guaranteed turnaround time for this contact step, so budget more lead time than you would for a same-day booking system.

How to Get an Appointment by Walking In

If you'd rather not wait for a callback, PGH's Citizen's Charter also documents a same-day walk-in path that runs through Counter-C at the OPD Admitting Section:

1. Proceed to the receiving clinic's nurse station, where new patients are given a Kaalaman Form — an information form used to route you correctly.
2. Bring the form to Counter-C, OPD Admitting Section, for registration.
3. A Blue Card is issued — this is your PGH patient record card.
4. Proceed to your assigned clinic with the Blue Card for your consultation.

The Citizen's Charter lists a total processing time of 25 minutes for this walk-in registration path, from arrival at Counter-C to being cleared to proceed to your assigned clinic. That figure covers registration only, not the clinic queue itself.

What Do You Need to Register as a New Patient?

For a plain new-patient registration — whether online through OCRA or walk-in at Counter-C — the Citizen's Charter's requirement is simple: a valid ID. That's the baseline documentation PGH asks for to register someone as a first-time patient.

This is worth stating clearly because a referral letter is commonly assumed to be mandatory for any PGH visit. It isn't, for a first-time registration. A referral letter becomes relevant for other, separate transactions — such as transferring care from another facility — which is a different process from registering as a new patient. Don't hold off on registering just because you don't have one.

Do Minors Need Anything Extra?

Yes. The Citizen's Charter specifies that minors, and patients who are mentally incapacitated, must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when registering — whether through the OCRA online path or the Counter-C walk-in path. The accompanying adult is expected to be present for both registration and, typically, the consultation itself.

Is a Referral Letter Required?

Not for a first-time OPD registration. As noted above, the Citizen's Charter's stated requirement for plain new-patient registration is a valid ID, full stop. A referral letter applies to other transaction types, like a transfer from another hospital or facility — not to someone walking through PGH's doors (or registering through OCRA) for the very first time. If your situation involves a transfer rather than a first visit, confirm current requirements by calling the OPD trunkline below before you go.

How to Contact PGH's OPD

For anything the Citizen's Charter doesn't cover — confirming a submission went through, checking on a case number, or asking about a specific clinic's schedule — PGH's official trunkline is:

+63 2 8554-8400, staffed 6 AM to 10 PM daily.

This is the number to call if you registered through OCRA and haven't heard back within a reasonable window, or if you want to confirm requirements before making the trip for a walk-in registration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is OCRA at PGH?

OCRA is the Online Consultation Request and Appointment System, PGH's official online channel for new patients. You register at pghopd.up.edu.ph, PGH's OPD Health Records office reviews your request and checks for an existing case number, your details are encoded into the hospital's ERP, and your assigned clinic then contacts you to schedule a teleconsult or face-to-face visit.

How long does the walk-in process take at PGH?

The Citizen's Charter lists a total processing time of 25 minutes for the Counter-C walk-in registration path — from arrival with your Kaalaman Form to being cleared to proceed to your assigned clinic. That covers registration only, not the clinic's own queue.

Do I need a referral letter for my first PGH appointment?

No. A valid ID is the stated requirement for a plain new-patient registration, whether online through OCRA or walk-in at Counter-C. A referral letter is required for other transactions, such as a transfer from another facility, not for a first-time visit.

Can minors register on their own?

No. The Citizen's Charter requires minors, and patients who are mentally incapacitated, to be accompanied by a parent or guardian for registration.

What happens after I submit a request through OCRA?

PGH's OPD Health Records office reviews it and checks for an existing case number, your information is encoded into the hospital's ERP, and the clinic you're assigned to contacts you directly to schedule either a teleconsultation or an in-person appointment.

Where exactly do I go for walk-in registration?

Counter-C, at the OPD Admitting Section. New patients are first given a Kaalaman Form at the receiving clinic's nurse station, which is then processed at Counter-C to issue a Blue Card before you proceed to your assigned clinic.

What number do I call to reach PGH's OPD?

+63 2 8554-8400, staffed 6 AM to 10 PM daily.

Can OCRA get me a teleconsultation instead of an in-person visit?

Yes — per the Citizen's Charter, once your OCRA request is processed, the assigned clinic contacts you to schedule either a teleconsultation or a face-to-face appointment, depending on your case.

Conclusion

PGH gives new patients two legitimate paths in: register online through OCRA at pghopd.up.edu.ph and wait for your assigned clinic to reach out, or walk in to Counter-C at the OPD Admitting Section with a valid ID for same-day registration in a stated 25 minutes. Neither path requires a referral letter for a first visit — that's only needed for transfers and other transaction types. Minors need a parent or guardian present. For anything not covered here, PGH's OPD trunkline (+63 2 8554-8400, 6 AM–10 PM daily) is the authoritative check.

Once you're registered, you can look up what to expect cost-wise in our PGH rates and fees guide and PGH laboratory price list. If affording care is a concern regardless of where you end up, our Malasakit Center guide explains the one-stop assistance desk available in many government hospitals. To search other verified facilities directly, use ClinicFinderPH.