Innovative fintech company PayBy is partnering with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) in the fight against COVID-19. Abu Dhabi’s healthcare regulator has officially mandated more than 2,900 healthcare facilities to use cashless payment methods, so as to reduce the risk of coronavirus.The mandate also introduces PayBy as an important partner in supporting cashless payment for Abu Dhabi’s health facilities.
The UAE government’s timely response to the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn international praise. The government deployed a raft of preventive measures, including early detection, closing down public places and implementing social distancing protocols. Cashless payments were promoted to ensure safety, as well as to achieve the larger goal of accelerating the nation’s digital transformation.
Aligned with this, the DoHhas acted proactively to safeguard public health. Mass testing and ensuring visitors entering Abu Dhabi present a negative test have helped control the outbreak of coronavirus. Having launched smartphone apps for contact tracing and telemedicine, the DoH is now focusing on mobile technology for payments.
Abu Dhabi health facilities under the purview of the DoH mandate includethose managed by prominent groups such as NMC, VPS, Mubadala, ADNOC and Al Noor Commercial. PayBy is developing a roadmapto rollout the cashless payment scheme, prioritizing these groups and individual healthcare facilities.PayBy is also currently in talks to expand its offerings to include other government smart services.
DoH’s efforts to promote digital payments are being supported by Abu Dhabi’s healthcare ecosystem. Leading chains of pharmacies, Al Ain Pharmacy and Al Manara Pharmacy (a part of Delta Medical Est) have signed up with PayBy to enable cashless payments at 52 Al Ain Pharmacy and 66 Al Manara Pharmacy outlets.
Dr. Abdul Kareem Ismaeel Ali Al Fahim, CEO of Al Manara Pharmacy commented: “We completely support the DoH mandate, encouraging everyone to adopt digital payments at this time to control the risk of infection. Reducing cash transactions will improve efficiency at Abu Dhabi’s healthcare facilities, including at Al Manarapharmacies. PayBy’s cashless options are safer, convenient and are accessible to all sections of society. They will help strengthen our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which can only be overcome when we all act together.”
Smart POS from PayBy will be deployed at both Al Manara Pharmacy and Al Ain Pharmacy outlets. Al Ain Pharmacy outlets will use a virtual point of sale (POS), which enables QR Code payments through a smartphone for deliveries. They will also use Invoice Pay, a PayBy solution that enables invoices and payment links to be sent on Whatsapp or email, supporting QR Code and card payments.
PayBy will provide easily set up, QR Code-based POS machines free of charge to the healthcare facilities. The POS machines will process cashless payments through the PayBy app.Going cashless helps the healthcare sector streamline processes, reduces transaction time, and simplifies payments. Cash handling requires additional resources for float management, reconciliation of transactions and reporting.
Cash-only transactions, however, are preferred by the underbanked, as they have limited access to financial services. Using PayBy, even the underbanked can make cashless payments at Abu Dhabi’s healthcare facilities, without needing a credit or debit card.PayBy is enabling financial inclusion by helping the UAE’s underbanked – about 39% of UAE adults– go cashless with the PayBy app on their smartphones. As smartphone penetration in the UAE is one of the highest in the world at 91%, PayBy leverages this to support the transition to a cashless society, in line with the UAE’s Vision 2021.
