Operations
Digital Payments in Indian Healthcare
By Relaya team · First published July 2026 · Last reviewed · 1 min read
UPI processed 24.5 billion payments in August 2026 (NPCI). The digital payment revolution has transformed retail, food delivery, and transportation, but healthcare remains stubbornly cash-heavy. This is changing rapidly, and clinics that embrace digital payments are seeing remarkable improvements in collection rates and patient convenience.
Why Healthcare Lagged Behind
But the calculus is shifting, patients now expect digital payment options, and the cost of lost patients exceeds gateway fees.
Automated Payment Collection
The real transformation comes when payment collection is automated and tied to the patient journey. Send a payment link via WhatsApp when the appointment is confirmed (deposit collection), process the remaining balance at checkout via UPI autopay, and automatically chase outstanding balances with polite payment reminders.
EMI and Treatment Financing
High-value dental treatments (implants, orthodontics, cosmetic procedures) are often delayed because patients can't afford lump-sum payments.