In a major development, AIIMS Delhi has decided to go completely cashless from April 1st, 2024. In an order issued dated Jan 23, AIIMS Director Prof M Srinivas said that the deadline for adoption of 100% digital payment systems will end on March 31st, 2024. Subsequently, no cash payments will be accepted.
The order mentioned that no cash payment shall be accepted at any counters other than at the ‘AIIMS Smart Card’ top-up counters which will be operationalised at multiple locations within the OPDS, Hospital and Centers. It will also operate on a 24/7 basis.
The order states the purpose of the Smart Cards as a transition the payment of any form of user charges to an entire digital payment mode. It will also improve patient convenience eliminating long time-taking queues for making payments for various investigations and procedures or for getting snacks/food in cafeteria etc.
The order mentions that the other electronic payments via UPI, Debit Cards, Credit Cards etc shall be accepted at the payment end points which are installed nearest to the patient location. Patients or their attendants will not be asked to visit the central registration counters to make any payments, it said.
The office order shared by the Director highlighted a recent news report which mentioned that an outsourced service provider tampered with the final discharge bills of a patient causing financial loss and mental agony. In support of the digital payment method, the order stated that it is an important transition to 100% integrated digital payment systems to ensure that no patient at AIIMS New Delhi is fleeced. This will also make the institute auditable on a end to end basis.