Patients visiting the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, can now avail the benefits of a smart payment card that will enable them to make cashless transactions at the hospital. The AIIMS-SBI SMART Payment Card was launched by Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday, February 12, 2024, in collaboration with the State Bank of India (SBI).
What is the AIIMS-SBI SMART Payment Card?
The AIIMS-SBI SMART Payment Card is a prepaid card that can be used for making payments at various counters in AIIMS, New Delhi, such as registration, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, cafeteria, etc. The card is being provided free of cost to all patients and has no service charges. The card can be topped up and refunded easily using an OTP received on the mobile number linked to the patient’s Unique Hospital Identification (UHID) number and Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID issued under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
How to get the AIIMS-SBI SMART Payment Card?
Patients or their caretakers can get the AIIMS-SBI SMART Payment Card from the facilitation centres across AIIMS, New Delhi, by providing their UHID number, mobile number and Aadhaar number. The card will be valid for a period of five years from the date of issue. If a patient loses the card, a replacement will be provided free of cost and the balance (if any) will be transferred to the new card.
What are the benefits
The AIIMS-SBI SMART Payment Card will offer several benefits to the patients and their caretakers, such as:
- Hassle-free payments: The card will eliminate the need to carry cash or use debit/credit cards for making payments at the hospital. The card will also reduce the waiting time at the counters and ensure faster service delivery.
- Security and safety: The card will prevent frauds and thefts as it can only be used upon providing an OTP received on the registered mobile number. The card will also protect the patients from counterfeit currency and fake receipts.
- Convenience and comfort: The card will enable funds to 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. The card will also help in maintaining a record of all transactions made at the hospital.
- Digital India initiative: The card will promote the digital India initiative under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and contribute to making India a cashless economy. The card will also align with the vision of “One Nation, One AIIMS, One Card”.
Future plans
The AIIMS-SBI SMART Payment Card is currently being implemented in phases at AIIMS, New Delhi. In the first phase, the card was introduced for AIIMS employees at the staff cafeteria in December 2023. In the second phase, the card is being implemented for all patients at the Mother & Child Block from February 2024. In near future, the services of these cards will be extended across all 22 AIIMS in India.
The launch of the AIIMS-SBI SMART Payment Card is a major step in patient care services and digital transformation of healthcare in India. It will provide a great relief to the patients and their caretakers who visit AIIMS from far flung areas and ensure secure and safe payments at one of India’s premier medical institutes.
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