Government Rolls Out Free Emergency Care Scheme for Road Crash Victims

The central government has announced a major decision aimed at providing immediate and quality medical care to those injured in road accidents. Under this new initiative, road accident victims will receive free medical treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued an official notification confirming the launch of this scheme, which takes effect immediately.

This decision follows a Supreme Court ruling delivered in January, which mandated that accident victims should be given free treatment during the "Golden Hour" — the first hour after an accident occurs. In response, the government has introduced the “Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme – 2025.”

As per the scheme, victims of road accidents involving motor vehicles on any road in India will be eligible to receive cashless medical services at hospitals up to a limit of ₹1.5 lakh. This benefit will be available for a maximum duration of seven days from the date of the accident.

The central government has advised all state governments to ensure the inclusion of hospitals capable of providing emergency trauma and polytrauma services under this scheme. The notification clearly states that medical treatment must begin immediately upon the victim’s arrival at the hospital. If the admitting hospital lacks the required facilities, the victim must be transferred without delay to another hospital equipped to provide the necessary care. It is also specified that the hospital must provide the transportation required for such transfers.

Once the victim is discharged, the hospital management must upload the medical service bills to the designated government portal in accordance with the specified package norms. Payments will be processed through this system.

Authorities expect that the implementation of this scheme will ensure timely treatment for many road accident victims, thereby saving lives.