Odisha to implement PM RAHAT Scheme to ensure cashless emergency care for road accident victims

Bhubaneswar: With road accidents claiming nearly 16 lives every day in Odisha, the state government is set to introduce the Prime Minister’s Road Accident Victims’ Hospitalisation & Assured Treatment (PM RAHAT) Scheme to guarantee swift, cashless and assured medical care for accident victims during the critical first hours after a mishap.

The roadmap for implementing the scheme was finalised at a high-level meeting held at Lok Seva Bhawan on Thursday under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Anu Garg. The meeting was attended by Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh; Principal Secretary of the Commerce and Transport Department NBS Rajput; Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department Aswathy S.; Mission Director of the National Health Mission Dr Brundha D.; State Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur; DGP (Crime Branch) Vinaytosh Mishra; senior officials of the Transport and Health Departments; and all District Collectors, who joined virtually.

Under the PM RAHAT Scheme, any road accident victim admitted to a hospital within 24 hours of the incident will be eligible for free treatment for up to seven days, with financial coverage of up to ₹1.5 lakh. The expenditure will be met from the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund. To ensure immediate medical attention, the scheme has been integrated with the 112 emergency response service, enabling quick rescue operations and prompt transportation of victims to nearby hospitals.

A robust digital framework has been put in place to ensure smooth and transparent implementation. Police authorities will upload accident details on the e-DAR portal within 24 hours, allowing hospitals to initiate claims through the Transaction Management System (TMS). Officials said hospitals will be reimbursed within a stipulated timeframe through this streamlined online process.

For effective monitoring, a multi-tier administrative mechanism has been established. While the steering committee at the national level will be headed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, state-level supervision will be carried out by the National Road Safety Council under the leadership of the Chief Minister, Transport Minister or Chief Secretary. At the district level, the District Road Safety Committee chaired by the District Collector will oversee on-ground implementation.

The Health Department informed that apart from hospitals empanelled under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, other hospitals equipped with emergency facilities will also be authorised to provide treatment under the scheme. Departments have been instructed to maintain close coordination to ensure seamless service delivery. A district-level grievance redressal system will also be put in place, with the District Collector empowered to take final decisions in case of disputes.

Stressing the importance of the initiative, Chief Secretary Anu Garg said timely medical intervention during the crucial “golden hour” can significantly reduce fatalities. She urged all departments and district administrations to strengthen preparedness and create wide public awareness about the scheme.