India takes a big leap toward road safety and emergency healthcare with the nationwide rollout of the ‘Cashless Treatment Scheme for Road Accident Victims 2025’. Here’s what the new policy means for citizens.
In a significant move aimed at saving lives and improving emergency response, the Government of India has officially implemented the Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025 across the country. This newly launched initiative ensures that anyone injured in a road accident will be eligible for cashless treatment worth up to ₹1.5 lakh at designated hospitals for a period of up to seven days following the accident.
The scheme has been rolled out by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, with the primary objective of reducing fatalities caused by delayed or inaccessible medical treatment after road crashes.
Under the scheme, victims of road accidents will receive up to ₹1.5 lakh worth of free, cashless medical treatment at empanelled hospitals. This facility will remain valid for up to seven days from the date of the accident and will only be available at hospitals that are registered and designated under the scheme.
If a victim is initially taken to a non-designated hospital, only primary stabilization procedures will be permitted there. For further treatment and full coverage under the scheme, the victim must be transferred to a designated hospital.
According to data reported by the Economic Times, India witnessed over 4.80 lakh road accidents in 2023, resulting in 1.72 lakh deaths. This marked a significant rise compared to 2022, with a 4.2% increase in accidents and 2.6% rise in fatalities. These alarming figures have driven the Indian government to adopt aggressive strategies for road safety.
With the Cashless Treatment Scheme, the central government aims to cut road accident deaths by 50% by 2030, in line with global safety goals.
The responsibility for implementing the scheme lies jointly with State Road Safety Councils and the National Health Authority (NHA). These bodies will oversee:
Empanelment and onboarding of hospitals through a centralized portal.
Verification and treatment of accident victims.
Timely disbursement of funds to hospitals.
Hospitals participating in the scheme must meet the eligibility criteria laid out by the ministry and be listed in the official portal for the scheme.
To ensure effective execution, the central government has established a 17-member steering committee, chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The panel includes:
The CEO of the National Health Authority (NHA)
Joint secretaries from the Ministries of Home Affairs, Finance, and Health
Representatives from six states and union territories
Members from the General Insurance sector
Three members from recognized non-governmental organizations
At the state level, the State Road Safety Councils will be in charge of supervising hospital networks, patient care, and payment systems under the scheme.
The introduction of the Cashless Treatment Scheme is a much-needed reform in India’s road safety framework. With access to immediate and cost-free medical treatment, accident victims will no longer face delays caused by financial or logistical constraints.
This initiative not only addresses the urgent need for timely trauma care but also reinforces the government's commitment to building a safer transportation environment for all citizens.
