Existing payment gateway useless; people suffer
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, July 5: The ongoing predicament of patients enduring lengthy queues to obtain their OPD cards and make fee payments for tests continues at SKIMS Soura, the premier healthcare facility in J&K, with authorities failing to make the process easy and hassle-free for them.
Patients are forced to spend hours acquiring OPD cards and then join another queue to pay the required fee for the tests. This situation persists despite the hospital’s implementation of a dedicated payment gate, which is currently non-functional, and the non-availability of Scan & Share Queue Management System.
Jehangir Ali, a patient, expressed his frustration on Twitter, stating: “Waiting in a queue for around 40 minutes for my turn and another 30 minutes to pay fees for tests. This is Kashmir’s premier healthcare provider.” He also shared a video depicting long lines of people waiting at the counters in the OPD section of SKIMS.
Speaking to Excelsior, Jehangir labelled the situation a “shame,” pointing out that despite being the top hospital in J&K, patients from various parts of Kashmir are subjected to prolonged waiting times for healthcare services. While Ali could afford to seek treatment at a private hospital, he expressed concern for those who couldn’t.
“In one queue, you get the OPD card. Then, when the doctor prescribes tests, you join another queue to pay the fees. Once the payment is made, you join a third queue to collect syringes and tubes. It takes a total of four hours to see a doctor,” Ali further lamented on Twitter.
It’s worth noting that Excelsior had previously reported on the issue, highlighting the challenges faced by patients in obtaining their OPD cards and making fee payments for various tests. However, at that time, the SKIMS administration dismissed the problem, claiming they were ensuring seamless patient services.
The SKIMS authorities have introduced a portal that allows patients to download their test reports, which has proven beneficial. However, the payment option within the portal is currently non-functional due to unresolved operational issues.
Furthermore, SKIMS has also failed to integrate its software with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) ecosystem, which would enable the implementation of the Scan & Share Queue Management System. This system aims to minimize waiting times, generate OPD cards swiftly, and is already operational in various hospitals, including those in peripheral areas and newly established medical colleges across J&K.
Despite multiple reminders from the Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department, SKIMS has not complied with the integration requirement, citing the need for a security audit of their software before executing the integration process. As a result, patients are left to suffer.
Dr Farooq Jan, the Medical Superintendent of SKIMS, told Excelsior that they are currently in the process of integrating their software with ABDM. Regarding the hardships faced by patients and the increased waiting times, he stated, “We open the counter at 8 in the morning to facilitate people.” He also acknowledged the issues in ensuring payments through their dedicated gateway.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
