• Source:JND

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to roll out the PM RAHAT (Road Accident Victims Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment) scheme later this month, providing free and cashless medical care to road accident victims across India, according to the TOI report. The initiative, earlier piloted as ‘Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims’ in Chandigarh, Assam, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Puducherry, guarantees treatment worth up to Rs 1.5 lakh for a maximum of seven days per victim. 

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The road transport ministry had notified the scheme in May last year, followed by detailed guidelines in June, and has now completed the integration of digital accident-recording systems with the National Health Authority’s hospital transaction platform to ensure smooth treatment, claims and payments.

How the scheme will work

1. Every road accident victim will be entitled to stabilisation treatment under the statutory framework.

2. Non-life-threatening cases will receive treatment for up to 24 hours.

3. Life-threatening cases will receive treatment for up to 48 hours.

4. Treatment will be provided at designated hospitals, subject to police verification.

5. The scheme will override all existing Central and state health programmes.

6. Hospitals will be reimbursed through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF).

7. The MVAF will be funded by general insurance companies for insured vehicles.

8. Budgetary support will cover cases involving uninsured vehicles.

Focus On ‘Golden Hour’ Emergency Response

The scheme prioritises strengthening emergency medical response during the critical “golden hour”, when timely treatment can significantly reduce fatalities. It is integrated with the 112 Emergency Response Support System for rapid ambulance dispatch and immediate police notification. 

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Automated SMS alerts will also be sent to district police officials and collectors to ensure swift action. All hospitals, designated or otherwise, are mandated to provide stabilisation treatment. According to Law Commission estimates, timely medical intervention can save up to 50 percent of accident victims, even as India recorded around 1.8 lakh road fatalities in 2024.


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