Now, QR code payment to reduce wait time for ultrasounds at govt hospitals

Noida: To cut short the long waiting queue for the ultrasound of pregnant women in Ghaziabad, the district health department has introduced QR codes which will allow free-of-charge testing at private diagnostic centres. The QR codes will be given on the mobile of the beneficiaries and the same will be scanned by the private ultrasound centres to receive payment.

Officials said that the health department in Ghaziabad is in the final phase of outlining the process under the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan and will soon start the facility for pregnant women.

“We are finalising the list of private centres where the payments will be made through the QR code. Once the details are chalked out, the service will start in the district and will allow testing in less time,” said Ghaziabad’s chief medical officer Dr Bhavtosh Shankdhar.

Every month, thousands of women queue up at government facilities across the district to get the ultrasound test done. It takes hours to reach their turn at the government hospitals. As an alternative to such an exhausting procedure, the health department has planned the cashless service at private ultrasound centres.

The government facilities, including CHCs, will issue E-rupi vouchers which will allow the transfer of money directly to the private centres. Under the project, the facilities accepted by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories will be allowed to conduct the testing of pregnant women.

Officials also said that approximately Rs 250-300 will be paid to the empanelled private centres through QR codes. To allow more transparency, the state government has also asked the bank details of the private ultrasound centres which accept E-rupi voucher, along with the details of mobile numbers, Aadhaar, PAN and email of the person generating and verifying the E-Rupi voucher QR code.