AIIMS Set to Roll Out Smart Card Payment System Across All Branches Under ‘One AIIMS, One Card’

The hospital-integrated card offers more than just digital payments, it enables remote top-ups from anywhere in the country, which officials say is especially useful in emergencies or in rural areas where banking services are limited.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has initiated the nationwide rollout of its smart card-based payment system, currently operational at AIIMS Delhi, as part of the Center’s ‘One AIIMS, One Card’ initiative.

The expansion aims to create a unified, cashless transaction experience for patients across all AIIMS branches in India.

Launched in February 2024 in partnership with the State Bank of India, the smart card is integrated with patients’ Unique Health Identification Number (UHID) and ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account). It allows digital payments for treatment, diagnostics, and hospital services, while also creating a unified digital record of medical expenditure.

“Preparations are underway to make the system functional at other AIIMS branches as part of a unified national model. Once adopted nationally, the smart card will allow patients to pay for medical services in any AIIMS facility using the same card,” said an official.

The hospital-integrated card offers more than just digital payments, it enables remote top-ups from anywhere in the country, which officials say is especially useful in emergencies or in rural areas where banking services are limited.

“The smart card addresses this issue by allowing patients or their families to deposit money digitally into the card from anywhere in the country, even in emergency situations,” a hospital official said. “The feature could prove useful, especially in rural areas where patients may not have access to banking services or debit cards.”

Initially piloted in December 2023 for staff at AIIMS Delhi, the smart card was first used in the cafeteria before being gradually rolled out for patients in the maternal and child block. It is now being extended across all departments within the Delhi campus.

While AIIMS Delhi already supports UPI, debit, and credit card payments, the smart card introduces a dedicated, hospital-linked digital wallet that allows patients to load money online and use it for a wide range of services, from blood tests to admission charges, in a single transaction ecosystem.

The national rollout is expected to reduce dependency on physical cash at hospitals and simplify financial navigation for patients, especially those travelling from other states or remote regions for treatment.

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