The government proposes to launch a cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims with a limit of Rs 2.5 lakh per case. The scheme has its relevance with the fact that India witness about 5 lakh road accidents in a year with the death of 1.5 lakh people and about 3 lakh people are crippled, one of the highest numbers recorded globally. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will set up a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund for cashless treatment scheme.
“All road accident victims of Indian or foreign nationality will be considered eligible for the scheme as its beneficiary. The scheme will have a cap of Rs 2.5 lakh/person/accident,” as per the communication
NHA’s (National Health Authority) robust IT platforms which are used for implementing AB-PM JAY (Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana) may be leveraged to provide cashless treatment for road accident victims for treatment including the golden hour (first hour of the accident), the communication said.
“The funds will have contributions from the insurance companies through general insurance council for ensured vehicles and for hit-and-run-cases,” it said and added that the ministry will pay for the accidents for uninsured vehicles.
As many as 32 of 36 states/union territories are implementing PMJAY and the scheme provides benefits to about 13 crore families.
