DBS Pushes For All Public Hospitals in Singapore to Accept QR Payments by 2020

In a push towards a cashless and chequeless society, DBS Bank is working with Singapore’s three public healthcare clusters, the National Healthcare Group (NHG), National University Health System (NUHS) and Singapore Health Services (SingHealth), on the payment infrastructure to transition all public hospitals, specialty centres and polyclinics to the nation’s unified payment code, Singapore Quick Response Code (SGQR), by end 2020. Currently, around one in five consumers pay for their bills via cash or cheque.

Adopting a phased approach to encourage a gradual shift in consumer behaviour to digital payments, SGQR will be first launched across 27 public hospitals, specialty centres and polyclinics with effect from today.

All a consumer needs to do, is to use his/her mobile phone to scan the SGQR code at the counter and key in the bill reference number to make payment. By unifying a multitude of QR payment options available in Singapore today, SGQR helps save consumers and counter staff the hassle of deciding which QR code for payment and collections – making the customer and employee journey a more seamless one.

Mr Raof Latiff, Head of Digital, Institutional Banking, DBS Bank, said,

Raof Latiff

“The unification of multiple QR codes into SGQR provides healthcare institutions and their customers greater freedom in the choice of payment platforms. With Singapore’s ageing population, having an easy-to-use digital payment method like SGQR is a progressive step to encourage wider e-payment adoption across various age demographics. In particular, SGQR will be helpful for elderly patients who wish to learn to be more digitally-saavy as all they have to do now, is to look out for one QR code at the counter or in their paper bills to make payment through their mobile phones instantly – saving them the hassle of shuffling through loose notes and coins, or issue cheques to make payment.”