Cashless Scheme For Road Accidents Announced By Nitin Gadkari - All You Need To Know

With the objective of improving emergency medical response and curb road fatalities, Nitin Gadkari has announced the rollout of cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims. The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) claimed that this initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to enhance road safety and ensure timely medical assistance to accident victims.

Mentioned below are some of the salient features of the scheme:

1. Immediate medical care: Accident victims will be provided free treatment during the critical golden hour-the first 60 minutes after the accident, which is crucial for saving lives.

2. Coverage: The scheme covers up to Rs 2.5 lakh per individual for medical expenses incurred during the first seven days of treatment for road accident victims.

3 Resource allocation: This new scheme will be financed by the central government wherein a special road safety fund will be created for road accident victims. The government also plans to collaborate with state governments, insurance providers and healthcare institutions for the rollout of this programme.

4.. Countrywide network: Both public and private hospitals, across the country, will be part of this initiative, thus ensuring wider and accessible medical care for victims in urban and rural pockets.

5. Objective: According to Gadkari, India has one of the highest rates of road accidents in the world (at 1.5 lakh fatalities per annum) and this scheme will be a proactive step towards addressing this issue. He also believes that this scheme will ensure that accident victims are treated without any delay. As part of its 'Vision Zero initiative', .
The road transport minister is aiming for a significant reduction in road accident death sin the country.

6. Technology: The scheme will be implemented with the help of a digital platform, which will enable seamless coordination between hospitals, insurance companies, and government authorities. The platform will also be tracking accident cases and monitoring the quality of care provided.

7. Stakeholder Reactions :The scheme has been lauded by road safety advocates, healthcare providers, and the general public. Health industry experts reckon that this scheme will not only save lives but also reduce the financial burden on families of accident victims.

8. Challenges Ahead: While welcoming the move, many experts also point out certain challenges such as proactive participation of private hospitals, fraudulent claims, and financial sustainability of this scheme. 

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