Post demonetisation, the Narendra Modi-headed government has been on an overdrive to promote digital payments and cashless transactions. However, despite all that, many prominent government hospitals in Delhi have failed to introduce it, thanks to inadequate infrastructure.
According to a report by the Times of India, several hospitals (barring AIIMS) in Delhi like Ram Manohar Lohia, Safdarjung, Lok Nayak and G B Pant are yet to install card swipe machines for payments. The report adds that hospitals are only accepting big payments through cards because of which there are long queues at cash counters.
On December 10, the government asked all central and state government hospitals to provide an option of digital payments.
The Health Ministry in an advisory issued by joint secretary Manoj Jhalani said it is important that the government health facilities are fully geared up to receive user charges in a digital manner including through mobile transactions. The advisory was sent to all the state additional chief secretaries and principal secretaries of Health.
(With inputs from PTI)