Calling it a significant step for digital India, the Health Minister stated that this initiative marks the first move towards “One Nation, One AIIMS, One Card.” “AIIMS Smart Payment Card will resolve the long-pending issue of patients from far-flung areas carrying cash with them to the hospital,” said Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya
New Delhi:
Aiming to transition all payments to digital mode and enhance patient convenience, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, launched the AIIMS-SBI digital patient care card service on Monday. The digital patient care or smart card facility was inaugurated by Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya in the presence of Dr M Srinivas, Director of AIIMS New Delhi, and SBI General Manager Manjeet Singh.
Calling it a significant step for digital India, the Health Minister stated that this initiative marks the first move towards “One Nation, One AIIMS, One Card.” “AIIMS Smart Payment Card will resolve the long-pending issue of patients from far-flung areas carrying cash with them to the hospital,” he said.
He also said that patients or their caretakers can get the card easily from the facilitation centres across AIIMS, New Delhi, and thereafter use it for payment at various counters. “The card does away with cash payments at AIIMS New Delhi for any patient services, including the canteen. A patient can deposit an amount in this card and recharge it at various points in different blocks at AIIMS,” he added.
The Union Minister added that funds can now be transferred easily and swiftly from across the country by anyone in case of any urgent payment-related requirement, for the patient being attended at AIIMS, New Delhi.
He also informed that in the near future the services of these cards will be extended across all the AIIMS in the country. He further reiterated the Centre’s commitment towards adding further convenience measures for patients across the hospitals in the country.
“Many patients travel from distant places and carry cash for various services. Now, all transactions will be cashless, with this card being used. After treatment completion, any remaining amount on the card will be refunded to the patient’s account or given back in cash,” the Union Minister further explained,” Mandaviya said. A Memorandum of Understanding with regard to the implementation of the SBI-AIIMS New Delhi Smart card system was also signed on the occasion.
The AIIMS-SBI card is provided free of charge to all patients and incurs no service charges. Patients can obtain a smart card from designated Smart Card counters located on the ground floor, the Mother and Child Block, and the staff cafeteria.
To acquire the smart card, patients and employees must provide their UHID generated at AIIMS. Upon providing the UHID, the patient will receive an OTP on their registered mobile number, which will be provided at the counter for card activation. Once topped up and activated, the digital patient care card can be used for payment at various cash counters 24×7 for services availed at the institute.
In another development, the Union Health Minister also oversaw the signing of a Collaboration Agreement between the University of Liverpool and AIIMS New Delhi, establishing the “AIIMS Liverpool Collaborative Centre for Translational Research in Head and Neck Cancer – ALHNS.”
ALHNS aims to impact the care of patients with head and neck cancer by fostering joint research and education programs between the Liverpool Head and Neck Centre, the University of Liverpool, and the Head and Neck Cancer Unit at AIIMS New Delhi. The collaboration also seeks to develop common standard operating procedures (SOPs) to access clinical datasets and tissue repositories from two ethnically diverse populations.
Dr. Mandaviya emphasized the government’s commitment to realizing the Prime Minister’s vision of making the country “Ayushman,” where healthcare facilities are affordable, accessible, and available to every citizen without discrimination based on wealth.
He highlighted the success of the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and Ayushman Arogya Mandir scheme in providing family health insurance and free treatment for serious diseases to 60 crore people annually, leading to significant savings for the underprivileged.
Discussing India’s progress in eliminating TB by 2025 under the Prime Minister’s TB Free India Campaign, Dr Mandaviya mentioned the provision of free medicines, testing, and nutrition to 25 lakh TB patients annually, with an expenditure of approximately Rs 3000 crore. Financial assistance of Rs 500 per month has also been provided to TB patients, totalling Rs 2756 crore directly into their accounts over the last 5 years. Additionally, service-minded citizens have adopted 10 lakh TB patients, distributing nutrition to them every month.
The Union Health Minister also highlighted the Sickle Cell Elimination Program, involving the screening of about 7 crore people in three years and providing free medicines for sickle cell, with a government expenditure of approximately Rs 910 crore.