Delhi government asks private hospitals to accept cheques, drafts

New Delhi: The Delhi government has issued strict instructions to all private hospitals to accept cheques, demand drafts and online payments from the patients. The government has issued a circular in this regard in the wake of complaints that some hospitals were not accepting cheques and demand drafts following demonetisation, causing inconvenience to the patients. The government has authorised only state-run hospitals to accept Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes from old circulation.

“It is informed that a few cases of non-acceptance of cheques or demand drafts and online payment transfer from customers by certain business houses including hospitals have been reported subsequent to demonetisation of old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 from circulation.“In this regard, I am directed to covey that all private hospitals and nursing homes in Delhi are hereby instructed to comply with the directions,” said a circular issued by Dr A.K. Saini, Medical Superintendent, Nursing Home Cell.

The government has also instructed the Chief District Medical officers (CDMOs) to visit the private hospitals and nursing homes in their jurisdiction to inspect that these instruction are being complied with by private hospitals and nursing homes and submit an action taken report.

Meanwhile, attacking the Centre a day after Union finance minister Arun Jaitley ruled out rolling back demonetisation, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the decision taken by a government that has “lost connect” with people smacked of “insensitivity.”

“I am very sad that FM has plainly refused to even review and consider rollback. The Modi govt has lost connect wid people n has become very insensitive,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted. With rallies in Meerut, Lucknow and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home turf Varanasi, Mr  Kejriwal is set to intensify his fight against demonetisation, supporting which, he on Friday said was “anti-national.” The Delhi chief minister and AAP national convener also plans to hold similar public meetings in poll bound Punjab. The AAP chief also took on ‘bhakts’ (a term loosely used to describe fanatic supporters) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly intimidating voices who oppose the scheme.