core sector communique

Pilot Projects on Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims on National Highways

The Ministry of Road Transport & highways has drawn up a proposal for cashless treatment of victims of road accidents on the National Highways.The proposal was discussed with stakeholders who proposed that a few Pilot Projects should be undertaken to get first hand experience on the various inputs and outcomes of the scheme and their practicability.  These Pilot Projects are planned in four to five states of the country.             Salient features of the Pilot Project would be: Ø  Ministry of RT&H will create a corpus from within the existing budget allocation of the Ministry to operate the Pilot Projects Ø  A single toll-free number for ambulance services. Ø  Ambulances to shift accident victims to the nearest hospital in the shortest possible time and rescue vehicle (cranes) and hydraulic cutters for extricating accident victims trapped inside a crashed vehicle and clearing the accident site. Ø  A 24x7 call centre to receive calls for ambulances. Ø  State Governments to provide mobile police posts on selected stretches. Ø   A network of empanelled hospitals to provide cashless medical treatment to the accident victims for the first 48 hours Ø  Payment at C.G.H.S. rates, failing which AIIMS rates subject to pre-determined overall monetary ceiling of Rs.30,000/- on total expenditure in each case. Ø  Standard operating protocols to handle accident victims. Ø  An Insurance Company /  Third Party Administrator to operate and monitor the pilot projects Ø  Training in First Aid for first responders to Road Safety Volunteers Ø  Road Safety Volunteers to be provided by Nehru Yuvak Kendra Sangathan Ø  NIC to create a software for recording reports of accidents, plotting the accidents taking place on the selected stretch, monitoring movement of the accident victims to hospital, treatment during and after the first 48 hours, settling of bills Ø  Special drive by the enforcement agencies of the States concerned to enforce road safety-related provisions of Motor Vehicles Act and Central Motor Vehicles Rules e.g. speed limits, wearing helmets and seat belts, compulsory third party insurance, prohibition on drunken driving etc. and treatment of accident prone spots.