SAMBALPUR: Call it impact of demonetisation or promotion of cashless transactions, the authorities of VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) at Burla have decided to instal swipe machines for collection of user fee for various diagnostic tests at the hospital.
VIMSAR Superintendent Brajamohan Mishra said they have already approached the State Bank of India (SBI) to instal swipe machines at the hospital. The SBI has agreed to provide two swipe machines shortly, he said.
Mishra said patients are facing inconvenience due to demonetisation. However, they can pay user fee for various diagnostic tests prescribed by doctors through debit or credit cards after installation of swipe machines at VIMSAR. In the first phase, the swipe machines will be installed in two of the three user fee collection counters of the hospital, he added.
Patients from western Odisha and neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand depend on VIMSAR for health service. The hospital provides diagnostic tests including MRI, CT Scan, ECG and ultrasound.
Hospital Manager Kirtiman Mahanta said around 1,200 patients come to the Out Patient Departments (OPD) of the VIMSAR daily. This apart, around 900 patients avail treatment in the indoors and they have to undergo various diagnostic tests daily, he said.
Around `one lakh is collected as user fee daily in VIMSAR and installation of swipe machines will be helpful for the patients. The machines will be installed within a week, he added.
At present, patients pay user fee in cash. However, people are facing difficulty in payment of user fee after demonetisation. The problem is likely to be resolved to some extent after installation of swipe machines in VIMSAR and it will also promote cashless transactions.