KMC-RI to observe Cashless Week to promote digital transactions

Hubballi: KMC-RI Hospital in Hubballi has launched an initiative to promote digital transactions and move towards a cashless payment system on its premises, hospital authorities said.The initiative aims to create awareness among patients, attendants and visitors and encourage them to use online payment methods for hospital services.

As part of the campaign, the hospital will observe Cashless Week from July 6 to 10.The programme is intended to familiarise patients, attendants and other visitors with digital payment options and increase the volume of transactions carried out through online modes. Officials said that currently about 40% of payments at the hospital are made digitally, and the goal is to gradually increase this figure to 100% by shifting all transactions to online channels.The cashless week will serve as a focused awareness drive, during which hospital visitors will be guided to opt for digital payment methods instead of cash. The move comes amid broader efforts to strengthen digital payment habits in everyday settings, particularly in high-footfall public institutions such as hospitals. As KMC-RI receives a large number of visitors every day, authorities believe that greater adoption of digital payments will reduce dependence on cash handling at counters and streamline the payment process for patients and their families.

Dr Ishwar Hasabi, medical superintendent of KMC-RI, said, “The online payment system will improve the hospital’s payment process. It will bring greater transparency to financial transactions and make the entire payment process easier and more efficient.”He said the hospital currently operates 25 payment counters, including 15 in the OPD section. “We are planning to set up eight more counters in the casualty department to provide quicker service.

Our target is to increase the share of online transactions from the present 40% to 80%, and eventually to 100%,” he added.Ramachandra Nayak, an attendant of a patient, welcomed the initiative. He said digital payments would greatly benefit patients and their attendants. “Due to long queues at payment counters, many people from villages sometimes miss their buses. In addition, staff often ask for exact change while making payments. The online payment system will certainly help overcome such problems,” he said.