India is testing a new smart cards system that will electronically keep track of its HIV/AIDS patients and is expected to facilitate medication through antiretroviral cocktails as well as track their potency.

The cards, launched Thursday, would be given to more than 300 patients receiving anti-retroviral drugs. They would need to bring the cards each time they come to the hospital for anti-AIDS drugs or for any other medical problem.

The cards would help health workers keep track of India's more than five million HIV/AIDS affected patients and act as a portable medical record. They fast-track treatment and medical response in emergencies, provide greater security to medical records and ensure immediate access and easy storage of data.

"These cards would revolutionise AIDS treatment," said Shubhashis Gangopadhyay of India Development Foundation, which along with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Indian Business Trust for HIV/AIDS, is conducting the trials.

There are many uses of the health smart card in dealing with HIV/AIDS when most of the affected population is mobile. For instance, constant monitoring is necessary to prevent drug resistance and the need to keep information confidential due to social stigma.

The scheme has been praised by former US president Bill Clinton, who is on a three-day visit to the country to oversee tsunami rehabilitation and push for more efforts on the AIDS battle.

"The smart card idea is fantastic and I think that it would be adopted by every country in the world," said Clinton.

With 5.1 million patients, India is the world's second largest HIV/AIDS affected country after South Africa, which has 5.3 million infections.