From Germs to Digital Gold: How UPI Could Be the Unsung Hero in Health and Hygiene

Prem Saran Tirumalai

I was there today at a medical complex for a consultation. While I was making payments I observed a few making cash transactions and a few making digital payments. An unsavoury scene drew my attention. One of the men making cash payment held a currency note in his mouth while he was counting the rest in his hands. While counting he dropped a couple of notes on the floor, a floor that looked like it was not swept or mopped for days or weeks. One corner of the floor had wet red stains and at another corner was an overflowing garbage bin. The notes that the gentleman dropped and held in his mouth went into the hands of another and he went on to count them, using his saliva to moisten his hands while counting. The site put me to thought. Among many that came by at that instant was that of the need, importance and benefits of UPI transactions in a scenario like this.?

The idea of UPI indeed is ingenious. While Bharat is being applauded for making transactions easy through UPI and probably the only country to have done it to this scale, UPIs contribution to the health sector has gone unnoticed. I dare to say that UPI may have benefitted the public and the nation at large by containing the spread of communicable diseases, no statistics to support the statement though.

Infectious diseases can spread through?indirect contact, which occurs when a person comes into contact with an object or surface contaminated with infectious agents. Germs can linger on inanimate objects like doorknobs, tabletops, or faucet handles.?For instance, touching a doorknob handled by someone can transfer the germs they left behind. Sharing utensils, cups, or personal items can also lead to indirect transmission. If an infected person uses these items, others may be exposed to the pathogens. Coming into contact with bodily fluids (such as saliva, mucus, or blood) on objects can transmit diseases. For instance, touching a contaminated surface and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes can lead to infection[1]. All of these have been widely known but discussed more commonly since the times of COVID pandemic. Among all other objects that can transmit a pathogen are the currency notes or coins that exchange hands and are not much talked about. A recent study found that the virus responsible for COVID-19 can survive on solid surfaces like coins for up to four days and on paper (like cash) for up to three hours.?[2] On a similar note bacteria can survive on most surfaces, including coins, for about 48 hours. [3] In a 2017 study published in the journal PLOS ONE, researchers studied currency notes to investigate the microorganisms living on paper currency. They discovered hundreds of species, including acne-causing bacteria, vaginal bacteria, mouth microbes, DNA from pets, and viruses.[4]? Research studies have also revealed that some bank notes and coins carry pathogens like Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus, which can lead to serious illness.[5] Given how cash circulates, traded constantly and remaining in circulation for years, it’s not surprising.

The average lifetime of a currency note in India is less than one year. Specifically, notes of smaller denominations like ?5 circulate for less than a year, ?10 notes last about two years before becoming ‘soiled,’ and ?100 bills remain in circulation for approximately 3-4 years. High-value ?500 notes typically stay in use for about 5-7 years [6,7]. Whether or not a pathogen (bacteria or virus) survives for long, is a subject that requires enquiry, but at the same time it holds true that pathogens are transmissible through currency. Given the period of a currency note or a coin to be in circulation it would be a worthwhile study to understand as to what extent they can play a role in spread of infectious diseases. It is in this context that UPI, a touch free, digital payment option, may have come out to be a saviour. Alas !! there seems to be no statistics to abet the contribution of UPI in this perspective. However, it would be a proactive move, should the policy makers decide to mandate UPI based transactions at least in health and hygiene critical sectors (Hospitals, Diagnostics, Food outlets etc.). Such a move can save or at the least safeguard millions of lives.

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1.????? Infectious diseases - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infectious-diseases/symptoms-causes/syc-20351173

2.????? Can COVID-19 be spread through money? - https://health-desk.org/articles/can-covid-19-be-spread-through-money

3.????? How Long Can Germs Live on Coins? - https://www.numismaticnews.net/collecting-101/how-long-can-germs-live-on-coins

4.????? ?Maritz JM, Sullivan SA, Prill RJ, Aksoy E, Scheid P, Carlton JM (2017) Filthy lucre: A metagenomic pilot study of microbes found on circulating currency in New York City. PLoS ONE 12(4): e0175527. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0175527

5.????? Here’s How Dirty Your Money Really Is - https://time.com/4918626/money-germs-microbes-dirty/

6.????? The lifecycle and cost of a banknote -https://www.livemint.com/Industry/TcmUwOGVb7HlUA5vxDe9qI/The-lifecycle-and-cost-of-a-banknote.html

7.????? Life of Indian Small Notes - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Life-of-Indian-notes-small/articleshow/11320651.cms

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