In a significant move towards digital governance and patient convenience, the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi is preparing to launch a new system for issuing birth and death certificates. This initiative aims to eliminate the need for applicants to stand in long queues or make multiple visits to the hospital campus.
How the New Digital System Will Work
Under the proposed digital framework, applicants will provide their mobile number and email ID at the time of submitting their application. Once the certificate is processed and ready, it will be sent directly to the registered email address. The document will carry an official RIMS e-signature, ensuring its complete legal validity.
Dr. Shailesh Tripathi, RIMS Additional Medical Superintendent, explained the process. He stated that if an applicant is unable to visit in person, they can still receive the certificate via email. For individuals without an email ID, they can register the email of a kin. However, those without any digital access will have to collect the certificate manually from the hospital.
Addressing Long-Standing Inconvenience and Backlog
The current manual system has posed considerable hardship, especially for patients, elderly citizens, and people travelling from distant districts. Applicants were forced to make multiple trips to RIMS to check the status and finally collect the certificate. This lack of a proper notification mechanism has led to a staggering backlog: more than 5,000 birth and death certificates issued since 2016 remain uncollected at the institute.
Dr. Tripathi emphasized that the digital rollout will solve this issue by sending timely notifications as soon as certificates are generated. The hospital administration believes this will not only clear the long-pending backlog but also prevent similar problems in the future.
A Welcome Change for Citizens
The new system, which is currently in development and expected to be operational later this year, has been welcomed by the public. Ramesh Oraon, a resident of Simdega, highlighted the relief it would bring. "For people like us who come from far-off villages, repeated hospital visits are very difficult. Email delivery of certificates will be a big relief," he said.
This digital transformation at RIMS Ranchi marks a crucial step in leveraging technology to streamline administrative processes, save time for citizens, and reduce unnecessary overcrowding on the hospital premises.
