Mumbai: Private hospitals are accepting credit, debit cards and cheque payments

All the major hospitals in South Mumbai are accepting online payments

Hospitals

Dr Rajendra Patanakar, CEO of Nanavati Hospital, Vile Parle, said that the private hospitals have resorted to debit cards, credit cards and cheques as payment modes. “By now people are making payments from their debit or credit cards or those of their acquaintances. At the same time, we have started accepting payments in cheques. Though there is a bit of risk in it, false cheque transactions are backed by legal repercussions so that’s the only other option we have as of this moment,” said Patankar.

“We have refused three customers from morning who had come to buy medicines for blood pressure and diabetes. We are only accepting payment by cards,” said a pharmacist at Wellness Forever Chemist, Andheri (East).

Dr Parag Ridani, head of Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai Central, said all the major hospitals in South Mumbai are accepting online payments. “As per the government resolution that we have received, we are informed not to accept denominations of Rs500 and above. All our patients and families are making online payments. We do expect some incidents of inconvenience but no such incident has taken place as of this moment,” said Ridani.

Vegetable vendors

Lalbachan Gupta, a fruit vendor, said, “Boni bhi nai huva sirji. People get angry if I say I don’t accept Rs500 denominations. They just leave angrily. I don’t have a bank account either.”

Parshuram Marol, a vegetable vendor, said, “People are asking for change for Rs500. I didn’t know about the decision but fortunately I didn’t have change, otherwise I would’ve given her.”