Municipal Commissioner Asheesh Sharma said health smart cards are aimed at doing away with tedious paper work. “Once the registration process and issue of health cards to patients gather momentum, we will gradually stop issuing case papers. The era of paperless hospitals is dawning in town,” he said.

Health cards, he said, would save a lot of time for patients who had to queue up for getting case papers and then lining up before the doctor. Sharma said every member of a family would get a health card.

The civic chief said the health smart cards are web-based which means the patients’ history can be obtained even by a doctor sitting in the US or UK. “Any doctor in the country or outside would be able to get the history of the patient from Pimpri-Chinchwad through Internet,” said Sharma. Pimpri-Chinchwad has a population of 15 lakh.

PCMC health chief Dr Nagkumar Kunachgi said the software for the health cards have been designed by Amruta Technology. “This year, we have a budget of Rs 3.75 crore for the health smart cards, including software and hardware,” he said.

Dr Anand Jagdale, medical superintendent of Yeshwantrao Chavan Medical Hospital, where the registration of patients and other details began, said, “The health smart cards would initially be issued only at YCM Hospital for Rs 20,” he said. Dr Jagdale said a patient coming with a health card will have also his details stored on the computer.

“If the doctor asks him to go for an X-ray, he won’t require a case paper. He will simply have to go to the X-ray depatment and the doctor will forward the details to the department,” he said. Dr Jagdale said initially the doctors will find a little more work load, but in the course of time, they will get used to it. Dr Nagkumar said after YCM Hospital, the health smart cards will be issued at all other seven PCMC hospitals.

The residents complain that the process of garbage cleaning in their area is not up to the mark. They also said that many open drains require immediate attention. “The pourakarmikas are not doing their duty properly. The garbage collection from each house is also not up to the mark. The BBMP authorities have to take steps to clear weeds and grass from the open drains to avoid any inconvenience during monsoon,’’ says S Veena, a housewife.

Heaps of garbage is a common feature at a few areas of Shankar Mutt. The residents also complain that the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has not taken any measure to improve the water supply. “There is no problem for water in a few areas but water is being supplied twice a week at other areas,’’ said U N Anandaram, a resident.

Echoing similar opinion, M Shivaraju, Corporator, said that the water supply was affected due to some technical problems. “Now, the BWSSB has replaced a valve to ensure water supply to Shankar Mutt and other localities,’’ said Shivaraju.

On the strengthening of open drains, Shivaraju said that he has been waiting for the BBMP to release funds to take up development work. “An estimation has been submitted to the BBMP on the proposed development work. The drain work will be taken up as soon as the BBMP releases the funds,’’ said Shivaraju.

On the garbage issue, the corporator said that he was unhappy with the garbage cleaning and disposal work at Shankar Mutt. “I have been taking several measures to ensure that garbage contractor does his job properly. However, the garbage disposal is far from being satisfactory. I am waiting for the BBMP to appoint a contractor to clear the garbage,’’ he said.

The corporator said that he has already sent a proposal to the government to construct a primary health centre for the benefit of families residing below the poverty line (BPL). “A civic amenity site has been identified at Karnataka Layout for the construction of a primary health centre. The construction will begin as soon as the state government approves the proposal,’’ he said.