Gadkari: Cashless Treatment Scheme for Road Accident Victims to be Launched by Government

The government, in partnership with the National Health Authority, is piloting the initiative in Chandigarh and Assam.

In response to the increased number of road accidents, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is formulating a scheme to assist victims with cashless treatment.

In partnership with the National Health Authority, the Ministry has launched a pilot initiative in Chandigarh and Assam to give cashless care to victims of road accidents caused by the use of a motor vehicle on any type of road.

Under this initiative, eligible victims will receive Health Benefit Packages for trauma and polytrauma care at empaneled hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), up to a maximum of Rs. 1.5 lakh for a maximum of 7 days from the day of the accident.

"The Ministry has developed a program and begun pilot implementation in Chandigarh and Assam, which is being administered by the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, established under Section 164B of the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari stated in a written response in Lok Sabha that the Central Motor Vehicles (Motor Vehicle Accident Fund) Rules, 2022, specify the sources of income and how they will be used.

The State Health Agency, National Informatics Center, General Insurance Council, local police, embanelled hospitals, and NHA, under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, will work collaboratively to administer the initiative.

"In light of the mandate under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the pilot program for cashless treatment to victims of road accidents caused by the use of motor vehicles, launched in Chandigarh and Assam, extends support irrespective of the place of the road accident," it said.