Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug 20: Road accident victims in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands can now access cashless medical treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh under the Prime Minister–Road Accident Victims’ Hospitalization and Assured Treatment (PM-RAHAT) Scheme, with seven hospitals across the Union Territory empanelled to deliver the benefits during the critical period following an accident.
Launched on February 13, 2026, the PM-RAHAT Scheme is intended to ensure timely and uninterrupted medical care for victims of road accidents involving motor vehicles. Eligible patients can receive cashless treatment worth up to ₹1.5 lakh for a maximum period of seven days from the date of the accident, irrespective of the category of road on which the accident occurred.
The scheme applies to all victims involved in road accidents caused by motor vehicles. It seeks to remove financial barriers that could delay emergency medical care, particularly during the Golden Hour, when prompt treatment is considered critical.
A key provision of the scheme is stabilization treatment at designated hospitals. Under PM-RAHAT, hospitals can provide stabilization treatment for up to 24 hours in non-life-threatening cases and up to 48 hours in life-threatening cases, subject to police response. The provision is aimed at ensuring immediate medical intervention without delays linked to financial constraints.
In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, nearly seven hospitals have been empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PM-JAY) and comply with the National Health Authority (NHA) guidelines for implementation of PM-RAHAT. These include G.B. Pant Hospital, Sri Vijaya Puram; BJR Hospital, Car Nicobar; R.P. Hospital, Mayabunder; Community Health Centre (CHC), Diglipur; CHC Rangat; CHC Nancowry; and CHC Bambooflat.
The empanelled hospitals are expected to strengthen access to timely and cashless emergency treatment for road accident victims across the geographically dispersed Islands.
The scheme also integrates emergency response through the 112 Emergency Response Support System (ERSS). Road accident victims and Good Samaritans, referred to as RAH-VEER under the scheme, can use the service to obtain information on the nearest designated hospital and request an ambulance where required.
After admission, treatment is provided according to the Health Benefit Packages developed by the National Health Authority.
PM-RAHAT combines emergency response, police reporting, hospital treatment, patient authentication and digital claim settlement within a single framework. The scheme is designed to provide assured, cashless healthcare for eligible road accident victims while strengthening emergency medical services and improving treatment outcomes in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and across the country.
