The government has launched an e-cardholder on its Common Access to Public Services app that holds 28 e-cards from 13 public entities.
A Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP) spokesman said that the e-cardholder aimed to solve the problem of lost or damaged cards and encourage e-development in the city.
The spokesman said that the 13 public entities involved in the first phase of the e-cardholder project are the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ), Cultural Affairs Bureau, Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau, Sports Bureau (ID), Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM), Health Bureau (SSM), Pension Fund (FP), Social Welfare Bureau (IAS), Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL), University of Macau (UM), Environment Protection Bureau (DSPA), Macao Polytechnic Institute (IPM), and Macao Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM).
The e-cardholder has a “one-click” function that can scan all the cards under a resident’s name. Residents also have the option to input only certain cards.
Under-18s who have signed up for a Common Access to Public Services account can also have their parents access their e-cardholders.
The spokesman noted that currently there are 930,000 Heath Bureau Patient Card holders, commonly known as “gold cards” yet last year 500,000 holders requested a new one due to it being lost or damaged.
The e-cardholder also has a personal health management function that can document a holder’s height, weight and blood pressure just by scanning a code.
SAFP Deputy Director Ng Wai Han said that other cards, such as the driver’s licence, are currently not included, adding that the government is aiming to diversify the types of ID or certificates included in the e-cardholder.
Ng said that this is only the first phase of the e-cardholder, as it has yet to replace physical cards. She added that the government hopes that once the e-cardholder proliferates, people can use it instead of physical cards. She also pointed out that some registration processes still require residents to show their physical cards and the regulation has not been amended yet so that at the moment the e-cardholder cannot completely replace physical cards.
Asked whether there will be workshops for senior citizens to learn how to use or register for the e-cardholder, Ng said that if there are social groups or organisations requesting such a service, her bureau would “gladly” organise classes for those who need help.
Ng underlined that currently there are only 28 types of cards that can be displayed in the e-cardholder, adding that the public is welcome to come up with proposals on what else should be included in the e-cardholder. The app can be downloaded via Apple’s App Store or the Google Play store.
