Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government is set to roll out the Centre's PM-Rahat scheme to provide immediate, cashless medical treatment of up to Rs 1.5 lakh for road accident victims during the critical 'golden hour'.
State health minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav said in a statement on Saturday that necessary arrangements for implementation through the Dr NTR Vaidya Seva Trust are nearing completion and the scheme will soon be fully operational.
Under the scheme, accident victims will receive free treatment for up to seven days or up to Rs 1.5 lakh, regardless of their financial status or place of residence. The minister said the initiative will be implemented across 687 empanelled private hospitals and 17 government hospitals equipped with ortho and polytrauma care facilities. A dedicated wing has also been set up within the Trust to oversee its execution.
Highlighting the importance of timely care, Satya Kumar Yadav said cashless treatment during the 'golden hour' can save lives and significantly improve recovery outcomes. Instructions have been issued to hospital managements, district collectors, coordinators and officials to ensure strict adherence to provisions under the Motor Vehicles Act.
The scheme will function through an online Transaction Management System (TMS 2.0), where hospitals must upload patient and treatment details. Police verification of accident cases will be completed within 24 hours through an electronic Detailed Accident Report system. Approvals for treatment will be issued within six hours of submission.
Payment to hospitals will be processed through two mechanisms. In insured cases, claims will be settled by insurance companies within 10 days. In hit-and-run or uninsured cases, payments will be made through the Public Financial Management System under the supervision of district collectors.
Officials said nearly Rs 27 crore is spent monthly on accident-related treatments under the Trust, with about 70 per cent linked to road accidents. The new scheme ensures that even those without insurance or financial means can access immediate care without delay.
The minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for prioritising public health and said the scheme would provide crucial support to accident victims while strengthening emergency care systems across the state.