Dakshina Kannada MP Demands Sanctions for Hospitals Denying PM-RAHAT Emergency Care
Captain Brijesh Chowta has ordered officials to penalize hospitals that bypass the PM-RAHAT scheme for road accident victims. The initiative provides immediate coverage up to ₹1.50 lakh for emergency treatment during the first seven days post-accident.
Enforcement of Immediate Accident Relief
Captain Brijesh Chowta, Member of Parliament for Dakshina Kannada, has directed local authorities to initiate disciplinary proceedings against medical facilities that refuse to treat road accident victims under the Prime Minister-Road Accident Victims’ Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment (PM-RAHAT) scheme. During a high-level meeting in Mangaluru on Saturday, the MP emphasized that the program is designed to bypass bureaucratic roadblocks to save lives in the immediate aftermath of a collision.
The PM-RAHAT framework, launched by the Central government in 2025 and adopted by the State in February 2026, guarantees up to ₹1.50 lakh for seven days of treatment. Critically, this assistance is provided without the initial requirement of documentation, aiming to eliminate the legal and financial hesitations that often prevent bystanders or hospitals from acting during the "golden hour."
Mandatory Digital Compliance Protocols
To streamline the reimbursement process and ensure no eligible victim is denied care, the MP highlighted strict timelines for the e-Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR). The procedural requirements include:
- General Admissions: Hospitals must log patient data into the e-DAR portal within 24 hours of arrival.
- Critical Cases: A maximum window of 48 hours is permitted for data entry in life-threatening scenarios.
- Verification Chain: Once the Police Department verifies the portal entry, the data moves to the Transaction Management System for government funding approval.
Failure to meet these reporting deadlines risks disqualifying victims from free treatment, a consequence Chowta warned would fall on the healthcare providers.
Inter-Agency Coordination and Oversight
The District Health and Family Welfare Officer (DHO) received instructions to convene meetings with major medical centers across every taluk to monitor compliance. Systematic data maintenance on all treated victims is now mandatory, supported by monthly review sessions to track regional progress. Adding to the call for action, Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyas Kamath urged the public to assist victims without fear of legal reprisal, noting that the primary goal of the PM-RAHAT scheme is the preservation of life through rapid intervention.
Source: The Hindu — Cities
