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Context:

Government launched a nationwide cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims.

What Is the Scheme?

This scheme, called the Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025, guarantees immediate medical care for road accident victims.

It covers treatment costs up to Rs 1.5 lakh per person for a maximum of seven days after the accident.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) designs it to reduce deaths caused by delays in medical care, especially during the golden hour—the critical first hour after an accident when timely treatment can save lives.

The scheme applies to:

• Any person injured in a road accident involving a motor vehicle.
• Any road in India, whether it is a highway, city street, or rural path.
• All victims, regardless of nationality, income, or insurance status.

For hit-and-run cases resulting in death, the victim’s family receives Rs 2 lakh as compensation, and ₹50,000 for injuries, along with support for legal and medical procedures.

Significance

Road accidents are a major problem in India. In 2023, India saw 4.8 lakh road accidents, leading to 1.72 lakh deaths. Over 50% of these deaths could have been prevented with timely medical care.

India accounts for 11% of global road fatalities, making it one of the most dangerous countries for road travel. Causes include overspeeding, reckless driving, weak traffic law enforcement, and lack of safety features in vehicles.

The scheme tackles these issues by:

• Removing financial barriers that delay treatment.
• Ensuring hospitals provide immediate care without demanding payment.
• Focusing on the golden hour to maximize survival chances.

How Does the Scheme Work?

The National Health Authority (NHA) leads the scheme’s implementation, working with police, hospitals, and State Health Agencies.  

Immediate Treatment

Victims receive treatment at designated hospitals (around 30,000 empanelled hospitals, including those under the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY program). These hospitals offer trauma and polytrauma care.

Coverage Details

• The government covers up to ₹1.5 lakh per victim for treatment within seven days of the accident.
• Hospitals raise claims, which the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund reimburses within 10 days.
• If police are informed within 24 hours, the treatment is fully covered.

Non-Designated Hospitals

If a victim reaches a non-designated hospital, it provides only stabilization care (basic treatment to keep the patient stable). The patient is then transferred to a designated hospital for full treatment.

IT Platform

The scheme uses an advanced IT system combining:

• The e-Detailed Accident Report (eDAR) application from MoRTH, which records accident details.
• The Transaction Management System of NHA, which processes claims and payments.

State Role

Each state’s State Road Safety Council acts as the nodal agency. It onboards hospitals, manages records, and ensures timely payments to hospitals.

Who Oversees the Scheme?

A 17-member steering committee, chaired by the Road Secretary, monitors the scheme. It includes:

• The CEO of NHA.
• Representatives from the Ministries of Home Affairs, Finance, and Health.
• State and Union Territory representatives (on rotation).
• Insurance bodies and non-governmental organizations.

This committee meets at least twice a year to ensure smooth implementation and address challenges. The government allocated ₹272 crore for the scheme in 2025-26.

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 Source: 

LIVEMINT