Every year, thousands of lives are lost on India’s roads because accident victims do not get urgent medical help. Recognising this, the government has launched a groundbreaking scheme that promises to be a game-changer for road safety and emergency care. Now, anyone injured in a road accident anywhere in the country can receive free, cashless medical treatment worth up to Rs 1.5 lakh at designated hospitals-no questions asked about income, background, or insurance.
What Is the Cashless Treatment Scheme?
From May 5, 2025, the Cashless Treatment Scheme for Road Accident Victims is active across India. The scheme covers all individuals involved in road accidents involving motor vehicles, regardless of who they are or where the accident happens. The main highlight: victims are entitled to medical treatment worth up to Rs 1.5 lakh per accident, per person, for up to seven days after the accident.
How Does the Scheme Work?
- Immediate Medical Care: As soon as a road accident victim is brought to a designated hospital, the hospital must start treatment without demanding any payment from the patient or their family.
- Coverage Limit: The scheme covers emergency treatment, surgeries, medicines, diagnostic tests, ICU admission, and other hospital services up to a total cost of Rs 1.5 lakh per person for each accident.
- Time Limit: This free treatment is available for up to seven days from the date of the accident, ensuring that the most critical period-often called the “golden hour”-is covered.
- Designated Hospitals: Treatment is fully cashless only at hospitals that are officially part of the scheme. If a victim is taken to a non-designated hospital, only initial stabilisation care is covered, after which the patient should be shifted to a designated facility for further treatment.
Who Is Running the Scheme?
The National Health Authority (NHA) is the main agency responsible for making the scheme work smoothly. The NHA will coordinate with:
- State Road Safety Councils in every state and union territory
- Police, hospitals, and State Health Agencies
A special digital portal will be used to onboard hospitals, process claims, and monitor payments and treatments. This ensures that the process is transparent, quick, and easy for all involved.
To make sure the scheme is effective and reaches those who need it, a central steering committee has been set up. This committee includes senior officials from various ministries and health authorities, and it will meet at least twice a year to review how the scheme is working. Each state and union territory will also have its own nodal agency to coordinate with the NHA and handle local implementation.
Before launching the scheme nationwide, the government ran a pilot program starting March 14, 2024. This allowed authorities to test and improve the system, ensuring that the nationwide rollout would be smooth and effective.
Why Is This Scheme So Important?
India has one of the highest rates of road accidents in the world. In 2023 alone, there were nearly 4.8 lakh road accidents, resulting in over 1.7 lakh deaths. Many of these tragedies happen because victims do not get timely medical help, often due to worries about cost or lack of access to cash. This new cashless scheme removes the financial barrier, making sure that no accident victim is denied life-saving treatment because they cannot pay.
How Will Hospitals Get Paid?
After the victim is treated and discharged, the hospital submits a claim for payment through the scheme’s digital portal. The State Health Agency reviews the claim and approves or rejects it, with reasons recorded online. Payments are then made directly to the hospital, ensuring a smooth and transparent process.
Key Points to Remember
- Any road accident victim in India is eligible, regardless of age, gender, income, or background.
- Up to Rs 1.5 lakh of free, cashless treatment is available per accident.
- Treatment is valid for seven days from the accident date.
- Only designated hospitals provide full coverage; non-designated hospitals offer initial stabilisation.
- The scheme is monitored by both central and state-level agencies to ensure fairness and effectiveness.
A Step Towards Safer Roads
This scheme is a major step forward in making India’s roads safer and ensuring that accident victims get the help they need, when they need it most. By removing the worry of medical bills, the government hopes to save thousands of lives every year and give families hope during their darkest hours.
If you or someone you know is ever involved in a road accident, remember: help is now just a hospital away, and it won’t cost you a rupee. This is not just a policy-it’s a promise of care, compassion, and a brighter, safer future for everyone on India’s roads.
