Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju, a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Telangana cadre, has directed District Collectors to ensure that all eligible network hospitals in the state are enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Road Accident Victims’ Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment (PM-RAHAT) scheme to expand access to emergency medical care for road accident victims.
During a review meeting with District Collectors, Superintendents of Police and transport officials, Jaju stressed the importance of providing timely treatment to accident victims, particularly during the critical golden hour following an accident.
He noted that although more than 1,000 hospitals were empanelled under Telangana’s Aarogyasri health scheme, only 469 hospitals had enrolled under PM-RAHAT. He asked district administrations to take steps to bring the remaining eligible hospitals into the scheme.
PM-RAHAT Offers Treatment Cover of Up to ₹1.5 Lakh
Under PM-RAHAT, eligible road accident victims can receive cashless treatment worth up to ₹1.5 lakh per victim for a maximum of seven days from the date of the accident.
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The scheme covers eligible road accidents involving motor vehicles on any category of road. It aims to ensure that victims can access necessary medical treatment without having to arrange immediate payment during an emergency.
The Chief Secretary emphasised that taking accident victims to a nearby hospital promptly is crucial during the golden hour, when timely medical intervention can improve the chances of survival.
Districts Asked to Expand Hospital Enrolment
The state has more than 1,000 hospitals empanelled under Aarogyasri, but the 469 hospitals enrolled under PM-RAHAT represent a smaller network for accessing treatment through the central scheme.
Jaju directed District Collectors to coordinate with the relevant authorities to ensure that all eligible network hospitals complete the enrolment process.
He also said PM-RAHAT could provide at least ₹100 crore annually towards medical treatment, helping reduce the financial burden on the state’s Aarogyasri scheme.
Hospitals Must Follow Prescribed Procedures
Jaju said hospitals providing treatment under PM-RAHAT must comply with the scheme’s prescribed requirements, including procedures linked to police verification and investigation of road accidents.
The scheme uses a digital process linking accident records with hospital treatment and claim processing. Police authentication is required within specified timelines, while approved claims are subject to the scheme’s payment procedures.
The implementation requires coordination among district administrations, police, transport officials and hospitals to ensure that eligible victims can access treatment.
How PM-RAHAT Works
The Central Government launched PM-RAHAT in February 2026 to provide cashless treatment to eligible road accident victims.
Key features include:
- Treatment cover: Up to ₹1.5 lakh per eligible victim.
- Coverage period: A maximum of seven days from the date of the accident.
- Road coverage: Eligible accidents involving motor vehicles on any category of road.
- Emergency assistance: Victims or bystanders can call 112 for information about the nearest designated hospital and ambulance assistance.
- Digital verification: Accident records, hospital treatment and claims are linked through designated digital systems.
The Telangana government’s latest review focused on expanding the network of participating hospitals so that more eligible road accident victims can access treatment under the scheme.
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