Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 19:The Prime Minister – Road Accident Victims’ Hospitalization and Assured Treatment (PM-RAHAT) Scheme, launched on 13th February, 2026, aims to ensure timely and uninterrupted medical care for road accident victims during the critical period following an accident. Under the scheme, eligible victims can avail themselves of cashless medical treatment of up to Rs.1.5 lakh per victim for a maximum period of seven days from the date of the accident, irrespective of the category of road on which the accident occurred.
All victims involved in road accidents caused by motor vehicles are eligible for treatment under PM-RAHAT. The scheme covers medical treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh per victim for a maximum of seven days, ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent victims from accessing essential healthcare during the critical Golden Hour.
A key feature of PM-RAHAT is the provision of stabilization treatment at designated hospitals. Stabilization treatment can be provided for up to 24 hours in non-life-threatening cases and up to 48 hours in life-threatening cases, subject to police response. This provision is aimed at facilitating immediate medical intervention and preventing delays caused by a lack of financial resources.
PM-RAHAT also establishes an integrated emergency response mechanism through the 112 Emergency Response Support System (ERSS). Road accident victims and Good Samaritans (RAH-VEER) can use the system to obtain information about the nearest designated hospital and request an ambulance, where required. Following admission, treatment is initiated at the hospital in accordance with the Health Benefit Packages developed by the National Health Authority (NHA).
Under the scheme, designated hospitals include those empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PM-JAY) and compliant with the National Health Authority (NHA) guidelines for PM-RAHAT. In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, nearly seven hospitals have been empanelled under AB-PM-JAY, including GB Pant Hospital, BJR Hospital, Car Nicobar; RP Hospital, Mayabunder; CHC Diglipur; CHC Rangat; CHC Nancowry; and CHC Bambooflat. These empanelled facilities help strengthen access to timely and cashless healthcare for road accident victims across the Islands.
PM-RAHAT is designed to provide road accident victims with timely, cashless and assured medical treatment without financial barriers, particularly during the critical Golden Hour. By integrating emergency response, police reporting, hospital treatment, authentication and digital claim settlement, the scheme seeks to strengthen India’s emergency healthcare system and improve treatment outcomes for road accident victims.
