AIIMS launches online verification for poor patients

The AllMS has started a one time online verification process for poor patients who are exempted from paying charges for investigation and surgical procedures.

Till now, verification was done manually each time a patient from the economically weaker section (EWS) came to avail any diagnostic service or for surgeries. The online process will bring more transparency to the service, said AIIMS authorities.

The new system has been operational for a week now. “The manual process was time consuming. It was difficult for the hospital to keep a track of all the total number of patients who were availing free services. Also, transparency was missing in maintaining the records. With the online data entry, the process is streamlined and the records will be readily available the next time the patient needs to avail free service like an MRI test or any other chargeable procedure,” said Dr Deepak Aggarwal, Neurosurgeon & In-Charge of the IT wing, AIIMS.

Patients who hold BPL cards will be required to flash their BPL cards for the data entry. Poor patients who not have BPL cards will need to submit affidavit declaring their below poverty level.

Subsidised rates

“There are patients who do not fit into the BPL category but are financially not in a position to pay the full charge for the procedure. In these cases, after an assessment with the social worker, subsidised rates will be provided and their data will also be saved online,” said Dr Aggarwal.

In several cases, patients have misutilised the service with false BPl cards, said authorities. Under the new process, the BPL number is tracked as a part of the verification process. “Currently, the BPL status of people in some states can be verified online,” said Dr Agarwal.

In May, the AIIMS had launched the Aadhar integrated online service in which patients could book online appointments with their Unique Identification Number (UID). Based on the Aadhar number, the hospital gives the Unique Health Identification Number (UHID) to patients which is used as a future reference number for patients.