Prime Minister Narendra Modi has formally approved the launch of the PM RAHAT Scheme, under which road accident victims will receive cashless emergency medical treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh, ensuring prompt care without financial burden.
In a significant policy move emphasising emergency healthcare, the Prime Minister has signed off on the PM RAHAT (Road Accident Victims Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment) Scheme, aimed at providing free, cashless medical care to road accident victims across India.
Under the scheme, anyone injured in a motor-vehicle road accident will be entitled to cashless hospital treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh, whether they are drivers, passengers, pedestrians or bystanders. This cover applies to treatment received within a defined period following the accident, with the goal of avoiding needless fatalities due to delayed or unaffordable care.
The scheme also differentiates between initial stabilisation and extended clinical care: accident victims who reach non-designated hospitals may receive immediate stabilisation care, while full treatment up to the financial cap is available at designated empanelled health facilities. This structure is designed to make sure emergency care is not withheld due to paperwork or payment issues at the critical first stages following an accident.
Government officials and health administrators have welcomed the announcement, stressing the importance of rapid medical attention especially during the “golden hour,” believed by trauma experts to be crucial for saving lives after serious injuries. While many road accidents occur in rural and semi-urban regions far from advanced trauma centres, the scheme’s pan-India roll-out aims to bridge gaps by bringing cashless care closer to victims.
Why the Scheme Matters Now
India has one of the highest burdens of road traffic injuries in the world, with hundreds of thousands of accidents and thousands of fatalities recorded annually. According to past government data, even before this approval, a nationwide Cashless Treatment Scheme for Road Accident Victims had already been notified, entitling injured persons to cashless care within seven days of crash but implementation and awareness have been uneven.
The formal launch of PM RAHAT comes as the government moves its administrative nucleus to a new office complex called Seva Teerth in Delhi, from where the Prime Minister recently cleared several welfare decisions, signalling a policy focus on citizen-centric service delivery.
The updated scheme codifies earlier pilots and statutorily mandated rights, making the provision of free emergency treatment a national priority backed by the Prime Minister’s direct approval. In recent parliamentary sessions, senior ministers had emphasised the need to reduce accident-related deaths by ensuring timely care noting that delays in treatment often cost lives more frequently than the severity of injuries themselves.
The National Health Authority (NHA) will act as the implementation agency, coordinating with state and Union Territory authorities, police, medical institutions and local health networks. Together, these bodies will oversee hospital empanelment, claims processing and monitoring to ensure the smooth functioning of the scheme.
How It Works: Practical Impacts for Victims
Under PM RAHAT, victims need not worry about upfront payments when they arrive at empanelled hospitals. Eligible treatment includes emergency stabilisation, surgical procedures, diagnostics, medications, and other necessary hospital services, all settled directly between hospitals and the government’s designated fund.
The scheme’s emphasis on cashless care rather than reimbursement marks a departure from traditional insurance-based access, where out-of-pocket expenditure often burdens families or influences health-seeking behaviour. By directly covering treatment costs, the policy aims to make immediate care universal and equitable.
Designated hospitals are required to provide initial care, and if specialised facilities are needed, they must arrange timely referrals and transfer, recording the process on a central digital portal. A steering committee chaired by the road transport secretary has been constituted to monitor implementation, compliance and reach.
States such as Chhattisgarh have already tied this national initiative with existing public health insurance infrastructure, such as the Ayushman Bharat programme, ensuring that designated hospitals in the state can provide free cashless treatment up to the ₹1.5 lakh threshold.
Challenges and Nuances Ahead
While the announcement has been welcomed by health advocates and citizen groups, some implementation challenges remain. Earlier reports on the cashless treatment initiative noted that about 20 per cent of claims during pilot phases were rejected, often because police reports were delayed or incomplete.
On-ground execution particularly in remote districts will require robust coordination between emergency services, police, local health authorities and hospital networks to ensure that victims are not denied entitlements due to procedural lapses or lack of awareness. Continued capacity building, timely ambulance services, and public sensitisation will be essential components of realising the scheme’s life-saving potential.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The formal approval of the PM RAHAT Scheme is a strong step towards guaranteeing that financial hardship does not determine whether someone lives or dies after a road accident. Ensuring cashless, immediate care reflects a humane policy shift rooted in dignity and right-to-health principles.
It recognises that access to emergency medical services should not be a privilege of those who can afford steep bills, but a basic right for all citizens whether in city centres or rural hinterlands.
Yet, intent must translate into reality. Effective implementation from timely ambulance response to smooth hospital admissions and a frictionless claim process remains the true test of this initiative’s success. It calls for genuine collaboration across government levels, civil society, healthcare professionals and citizens themselves.
