[Prolonged waiting times for medical consultation services: challenges and opportunities for hospitals in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo].

Introduction: Prolonged waiting times for medical consultations become a factor in patient dissatisfaction. This study aimed to measure the waiting times for medical consultation and to identify the causes and the consequences from the perspective of improvement of the organisation of medical services.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study at the General Provincial Reference hospital in Bukavu and at the Biopharm Hospital Center.