15 November,2016 08:28 AM IST | | Rupsa Chakraborty
Hospital to have table set up by Punjab National Bank and Postal Department to help needy patients exchange defunct Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes; other hospitals to follow suit soon
Patients from KEM Hospital had thronged local pharmacies on November 9 after the hospital ran out of change
There is finally some relief for thousands of needy patients from civic hospitals who have been hit hard by the current cash crunch for their medicines and treatment. Starting with KEM hospital today, all other civic-run hospitals will soon have a table in their premises to help patients exchange the defunct R500 and R1,000 notes for treatment. The Postal Department and Punjab National Bank would be arranging the change for the patients after checking their documents and identity card.
"They had approached me with the request of providing them the space to help poor patients get change. I have approved it on Monday.
They will check the documents of the patients with their identity proof and give changes as required," said Dr Avinash Supe, dean of KEM Hospital and director of major civic hospitals.
Other hospitals to follow
Other civic hospitals will also get such an arrangement soon. "The exchange limit has [now] been set at Rs 4,500. So, patients can get exchange up to the limit, considering their requirements," said Dr Supe, adding, "I have asked all other civic hospitals to accept the offers from banks that want to open exchange counter in hospitals. It will be beneficial for patients."
Several hospitals and patients were inconvenienced after the Prime Minister's demonetisation announcement on November 8 and hundreds of them were forced to run from pillar to post to exchange their defunct R500 and R1,000 notes. Though the government had stated in its circular that government and civic-run hospitals would take the old denomination for the 72 hours post the announcement, most of them ran out of R100 currency notes as they were not informed of the move beforehand.
