The Government of India has taken a significant step towards enhancing medical care accessibility for victims of road accidents by launching a pilot program for cashless treatment. This initiative, in alignment with the legal mandate of section 162 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, aims to reduce fatalities resulting from road accidents across the nation.
Developed under the supervision of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the pilot program is set to commence in Chandigarh. Its primary objective is to establish a comprehensive ecosystem that ensures timely medical assistance to accident victims, particularly during the critical golden hour.
The National Health Authority (NHA) will spearhead the implementation of the pilot program, working in coordination with law enforcement agencies, hospitals, and State Health Agencies (SHAs).
Outlined below are the key features of the pilot program:
- Accident victims will be entitled to cashless treatment, with coverage extending up to Rs. 1.5 lakhs per person per accident for a maximum duration of 7 days from the date of the incident.
- The cashless treatment facility will be applicable to all road accidents caused by the use of motor vehicles on any category of road.
- Trauma and polytrauma cases will be covered under AB PM-JAY packages, enhancing the scope of medical assistance provided.
- Hospitals providing treatment to accident victims will raise claims for reimbursement from the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund.
The execution of the program will rely on an integrated IT platform that combines the functionalities of the eDAR application of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Transaction Management System (TMS) of the National Health Authority.
The success of the pilot program will serve as a crucial determinant for the potential nationwide expansion of the cashless treatment facility to benefit road accident victims across the entire country.
