30 hospitals implement cashless payments

ABO/NDO – About 30 hospitals have carried out cashless payments so far, contributing to reducing queuing time and improving patient satisfaction, heard an online conference held by the Ministry of Health on September 20.

The conference was held in a bid to promote cashless payments in the health sector in Vietnam.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien at the conference.

The University Medical Centre Ho Chi Minh City is one of the pioneers in effectively implementing non-cash payments for hospital fees, heard the conference.

There are 15 banks currently providing services to pay hospital fees through QR code using smart phones. About 35% of patients have implemented cashless payments when participating in payment transactions of hospitals.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said that the health sector is boosting cashless payments but only a small number of hospitals have implemented this method of payment in addition to weak connections between software of banks, e-payment service providers, and the information systems of hospitals.

In particular, the health sector has yet to develop measures to conduct cashless payments at medical facilities in remote and rural areas, Tien noted.

As scheduled, the Ministry of Health has asked all hospitals and medical facilities to implement cashless payment services before December 31 this year to facilitate both patients and hospitals.

(Source: NDO)