Pune: In the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) hospitals, digital payment methods are still unavailable, forcing patients and their families to pay in cash.

Despite the widespread adoption of online payments in other sectors, municipal hospitals have yet to catch up, leading to significant inconvenience for those seeking medical care.

Patients visiting any of the 32 dispensaries and 8 major hospitals run by the PCMC are required to pay for services in cash. There are no provisions for online payments, meaning patients must ensure they have exact change when they arrive.

This issue is particularly frustrating for patients needing to get case papers or pay for treatment bills, where the absence of online payment options leads to long queues and unnecessary delays.

Online payment options are available across many sectors today, yet none of the municipal hospitals offer this facility.

On one hand, the corporation collects property taxes online, processes tenders, pays bills, implements DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) for students, and disburses employee salaries through online payments.

Then why is this facility not available in hospitals? Even for birth and death certificates, payments are accepted only in cash.

Patients' relatives are questioning why street vendors can accept online payments, but the corporation cannot. Patients and their families are demanding that online payment facilities be made available in all municipal hospitals as soon as possible.

Dr. Laxman Gofane, Medical Officer stated, "Discussions have been held with senior officials regarding the introduction of online payment facilities in municipal hospitals.

Preparations are underway to implement the necessary procedures for online payments, and soon, both cash and online payment options will be available in all hospitals."