Road Accident Victims to Benefit from Cashless Medical Treatment up to ₹1.5 Lakh
In a major step towards saving lives on the road, the government has rolled out a nationwide scheme offering free cashless treatment to all road accident victims , just days before a Supreme Court deadline. Starting Monday, over 30,000 designated hospitals across India will provide immediate care to crash victims without demanding upfront payment.
Under the new scheme, any person injured in a road accident involving motor vehicles on public roads is entitled to up to ₹1.5 lakh in treatment assistance, valid for a period of seven days from the date of the accident. The initiative, part of the 2019 amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act, had faced delays in implementation, drawing sharp criticism from the Supreme Court. The Centre was finally pressed to act after a stern court deadline was set.
Previously, the scheme was tested through pilot projects in four states and two Union Territories. Now, with a national rollout planned for 2025-26, the government has earmarked ₹272 crore for its execution.
The scheme clarifies that only designated hospitals-empanelled by the National Health Authority (NHA) in collaboration with states and UTs-will be responsible for providing full treatment. If a victim is brought to a hospital lacking necessary trauma facilities, the hospital must stabilize the patient, then transfer them to another designated hospital equipped for further care. The referral and transfer must be logged on a dedicated online portal, with the hospital ensuring safe transport.
To oversee the scheme, a 17-member steering committee led by the Secretary of Road Transport has been set up. The move is expected to significantly reduce fatalities, as studies show over 50% of road deaths could be avoided with timely medical attention.
This long-awaited initiative marks a critical shift in India’s emergency care response and could be a game-changer in reducing the country's alarming road accident toll.
Under the new scheme, any person injured in a road accident involving motor vehicles on public roads is entitled to up to ₹1.5 lakh in treatment assistance, valid for a period of seven days from the date of the accident. The initiative, part of the 2019 amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act, had faced delays in implementation, drawing sharp criticism from the Supreme Court. The Centre was finally pressed to act after a stern court deadline was set.
Previously, the scheme was tested through pilot projects in four states and two Union Territories. Now, with a national rollout planned for 2025-26, the government has earmarked ₹272 crore for its execution.
The scheme clarifies that only designated hospitals-empanelled by the National Health Authority (NHA) in collaboration with states and UTs-will be responsible for providing full treatment. If a victim is brought to a hospital lacking necessary trauma facilities, the hospital must stabilize the patient, then transfer them to another designated hospital equipped for further care. The referral and transfer must be logged on a dedicated online portal, with the hospital ensuring safe transport.
To oversee the scheme, a 17-member steering committee led by the Secretary of Road Transport has been set up. The move is expected to significantly reduce fatalities, as studies show over 50% of road deaths could be avoided with timely medical attention.
This long-awaited initiative marks a critical shift in India’s emergency care response and could be a game-changer in reducing the country's alarming road accident toll.
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