KGMU begins trial for cashless transactions to reduce queues

LUCKNOW: With an eye on reducing queues, the King George’s Medical University started trial for cashless transactions via smart card on Thursday. The process began in the rheumatology department, with six patients being admitted through cashless transactions during the day.

If the trial turns out to be successful, cash transactions at all the counters on the KGMU campus will be replaced with cashless system. The second department to undergo the trial will be the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation. The smart cards that will replace cash transaction are equipped with near field communication technology.

“The card will come on a refundable payment of ₹50 and can be recharged for any amount depending on the estimated expense. On return of the card, the balance amount and the security deposit will be returned,” said KGMU spokesperson Dr Santosh Kumar.

HOW IT WILL WORK

A patient or attendant will get a smart card from the counter and will be able to recharge it with any amount as per the estimated expense to be incurred on treatment. Whenever there is need to pay for any service such as tests, admission or medicine, the patient’s attendant will visit the cash counter, give patient’s registration number and the type of test required. The staff at the counter will enter the test against the patient’s registration number and then swipe/touch the smart card on the machine.

The patient’s fee will be deducted from the card. The entire process will take just a few seconds. The top up in the card can be done from any cash counter, if required. Once treatment is completed the card can be returned and any amount left will be refunded.