Pilot project for cashless treatment of road accident victims

The Government of India will launch a pilot programme to provide cashless treatment to road accident victims. The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will launch the pilot programme in Chandigarh.

According to a report released by the Union  Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, 4,61,312 road accidents occurred in 2022, killing 1,68,491 people and injuring 4,43,366. 

The project aims to provide timely medical help to road victims to reduce the chance of death and severe damage.

Feature of the Pilot Project

• The pilot project aims to establish an ecosystem for providing timely medical care to road accident victims, including during the golden hour.
• The victim of a road accident is entitled to a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh per accident and will receive the amount within 7 days of the accident.
• The hospital expenses incurred in treating the road accident victim will be reimbursed from the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund. 
• The pilot project will include all types of road accidents caused by using motor vehicles on any road category.
• In Medical terms, the first hour after the accident is called the 'golden hour'. If proper first aid is given to road accident victims, they have a greater chance of survival and a reduction in the severity of their injuries.

Implementing Agency 

• The National Health Authority under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will be the implementing agency for the pilot programme, coordinating with the police, hospitals, and State Health Agency (SHA).
• The programme will be implemented through an online platform that combines the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' e-Detailed Accident Report (eDAR) application with the NHA's Transaction Management System (TMS).

National Health Authority  

• The National Health Authority was set up on 2nd January 2019, replacing the National Health Agency. The National Health Agency was set up in 2018.
• The National Health Authority comes under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare is the chairperson of the National Health Authority.  
• The National Health Authority is the main body responsible for implementing India’s flagship public health insurance scheme, “Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.”
• It is responsible for designing strategy, building technological infrastructure, and implementing the “National Digital Health Mission” to create a National Digital Health Ecosystem.
• Chief Executive Officer of National Health Authority: Ms Deepti Gaur Mukherjee.