STARTING October 1, all government hospitals and clinics under the Health Ministry (MOH) will begin using cashless payments for its services.

According to ministry secretary-general Harjeet Singh payments using debit and credit cards as well as e-wallets will be accepted in all government health facilities.

“However, cash payments are still accepted for those with no bank accounts or without online banking,” he said in a circular.

Harjeet said going cashless would reduce the risk of leakage of public funds and would smoothen out counter services as well as to minimise Covid-19 transmission.

“The directive is part of Putrajaya’s ongoing digitisation efforts and the ministry expects 95% of transactions in its hospitals and clinics to be cashless by the end of the year,” he added.

In 2020, the MOH said it was adopting the cashless electronic payment methods for healthcare services at 139 hospitals, 144 health clinics and four health institutes nationwide.

Then minister Dr Adham Baba said contactless payment methods allows the public to use debit cards, credit cards, e-wallet apps and other instruments such as PayWave.

He said going cashless was part of the recommended measures under the new normal way of life, which is being advocated by the government to reduce the risk of infection amid the Covid-19 pandemic. – July 24, 2022.