Note ban: Card machines at Medical College Hospital, Regional Cancer Centre

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Demonetisation has forced major government hospitals including Regional Cancer Centre and medical college hospitals to go for debit and credit card machines. The RCC authorities have approached their bank to install debit card and credit card machines at their institution at the earliest. “We have requested the bank authorities to set up the machines by tomorrow. The machines are likely to be up and running soon” said an official.

The authorities at Trivandrum Medical College have also requested their respective banks to install the machines for enabling their patients to pay through debit or credit cards for various facilities including at the diagnostic laboratories. The decision to install card swipe machines comes in the wake of complaints that hospitals were not accepting Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes despite Central Government’s directive.

At the medical college, there was a delay in accepting Rs 500 and Rs 1000 since the authorities didn’t have enough currency notes of smaller denominations to return the balance. “I have signed the request letter today seeking installation of debit and credit card machines in most paying counters. This is the first time we have come across such a situation,” said Dr Sharmad MCH superintendent. The MCH authorities have requested banks to provide sufficient amount of lower denomination currency notes from Saturday.