NEW DELHI: Road transport ministry on Thursday announced launching a pilot programme to provide “cashless” treatment to all road crashes in Chandigarh, which will entitle such victims to get treatment of up to Rs 1.5 lakh and for a maximum of seven days.
Based on the outcome of the pilot programme, expansion of cashless treatment facility to the entire country will be considered, it said. The ministry said the pilot programme is aimed at establishing an ecosystem for providing timely medical care to road crash victims, including during the golden hour (first hour from accident). TOI had on Jan 31 first reported about the govt proposal to cap the amount for cashless treatment.
National Health Authority (NHA) will implement the pilot programme, in coordination with police, hospitals and State Health Agency (SHA). Several studies have found that around half of road deaths can be prevented by providing quick medical care in the first one hour of a crash. In 2022, India recorded the maximum ever 1.68 lakh road deaths.
Sources said an assessment by the ministry has found that average medical expenses in around 97% of road crash cases is approximately Rs 60,000. Only a small number of victims need long hospitalisation and intensive care.
The cashless medical treatment will cover crashes caused by motor vehicles on all types of roads. Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) packages for trauma and poly-trauma cases are also being co-opted in this scheme. The ministry has carried out inter-ministerial consultation for the scheme, which was introduced in the Central Motor Vehicle Act in 2019.
Based on the outcome of the pilot programme, expansion of cashless treatment facility to the entire country will be considered, it said. The ministry said the pilot programme is aimed at establishing an ecosystem for providing timely medical care to road crash victims, including during the golden hour (first hour from accident). TOI had on Jan 31 first reported about the govt proposal to cap the amount for cashless treatment.
National Health Authority (NHA) will implement the pilot programme, in coordination with police, hospitals and State Health Agency (SHA). Several studies have found that around half of road deaths can be prevented by providing quick medical care in the first one hour of a crash. In 2022, India recorded the maximum ever 1.68 lakh road deaths.
Sources said an assessment by the ministry has found that average medical expenses in around 97% of road crash cases is approximately Rs 60,000. Only a small number of victims need long hospitalisation and intensive care.
The cashless medical treatment will cover crashes caused by motor vehicles on all types of roads. Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) packages for trauma and poly-trauma cases are also being co-opted in this scheme. The ministry has carried out inter-ministerial consultation for the scheme, which was introduced in the Central Motor Vehicle Act in 2019.
Source Agencies
