PM RAHAT Scheme Launched: ₹1.5 Lakh Cashless Treatment for Road Accident Victims

The government has launched the PM RAHAT (Road Accident Victim Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment) scheme, providing cashless medical treatment of up to Rs 1.5 lakh per road accident victim for a period of seven days from the date of the accident. The scheme applies to victims in any category of road and will be implemented through an integrated digital framework linking accident reporting, police authentication, hospital treatment and claim settlement.

In an official statement, dated February 14, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the launch of the PM RAHAT scheme.

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India records a significant number of road accident fatalities every year. The government said PM RAHAT aims to reduce preventable deaths by ensuring assured cashless treatment, structured coordination among emergency responders and hospitals, and defined timelines for authentication and reimbursement.

Under PM RAHAT, every eligible road accident victim will be entitled to cashless treatment of up to Rs 1.5 lakh for a maximum of seven days from the date of accident. Stabilisation treatment will be provided for up to 24 hours in non-life-threatening cases and up to 48 hours in life-threatening cases.

50% Deaths Preventable with Golden Hour Admission: Ministry

MoRTH observed that studies have indicated that nearly 50 per cent of road accident deaths can be prevented if victims are admitted to hospital within the first hour, commonly referred to as the golden hour. The integration is intended to enable coordination between emergency responders, police authorities and hospitals to facilitate timely admission.

Police confirmation through an integrated digital system is required within 24 hours for non-life-threatening cases and within 48 hours for life-threatening cases. MoRTH said the scheme is designed to ensure that no accident victim is denied immediate medical assistance due to financial constraints.

The scheme is linked with the 112 emergency response support system. Road accident victims, "Rah-Veer" (Good Samaritans), or any person present at the accident site may dial 112 to obtain details of the nearest designated hospital and request ambulance assistance.

PM RAHAT will be implemented through the integration of the Electronic Detailed Accident Report (eDAR) platform of MoRTH with Transaction Management System (TMS 2.0) of National Health Authority.

This linkage will enable digital tracking from accident reporting to hospital admission, police authentication, treatment administration, claim processing and final payment. Police authentication within defined timelines will ensure accountability whilst allowing uninterrupted emergency care.

Motor Vehicle Accident Fund to Reimburse Hospitals

Reimbursement to hospitals will be made through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund. In cases where the offending vehicle is insured, payments will be drawn from contributions made by general insurance companies. In uninsured and hit-and-run cases, payments will be made through budgetary allocation by the government of India. Claims approved by the State Health Agency will be paid within 10 days, providing time-bound financial settlement to hospitals.

Grievances of road accident victims will be addressed by a Grievance Redressal Officer nominated by the District Road Safety Committee, chaired by the District Collector, District Magistrate or Deputy Commissioner. The mechanism is intended to ensure accountability at the district level.