M A I N   N E W S

A first: Cashless treatment for road accident victims
Scheme rolled out for Gurgaon-Jaipur stretch; Six advanced ambulances flagged off
Tribune News Service

Saving lives on NH-8 Accident victims on the Gurgaon-Jaipur NH-8 stretch will get free medical treatment, including hospitalisation for first 48 hours The free treatment cost for each victim has been capped at Rs 30,000; the Centre has tied up with a private insurer to cover medical costs 11 advanced life support ambulances connected through the global positioning system will be deployed initially Emergency services can be accessed using toll-free number ‘1033’

Gurgaon, July 29
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Oscar Fernandes today launched country’s first cashless treatment project for accident victims on the Gurgaon-Jaipur stretch of the National Highway-8.

The minister also flagged off six new advanced life support ambulances for prompt transport of accident victims to nearby hospitals.

Under the initiative, all victims of road accidents on the NH-8 stretch will get free medical treatment, including hospitalisation for the first 48 hours. Initially, 11 ambulances will be deployed on the stretch and will be connected to the control room at Gurgaon through the global positioning system (GPS).

The accident victims can dial toll-free number “1033” for assistance. The information will be relayed to ambulances directing them to reach the scene in shortest possible time.

The ambulances have been supplied by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways as part of its emergency care initiative.

The accident victims will be provided free treatment up to Rs 30,000 each. The Central Government has released Rs 20 crore for the project and tied up with a private insurance major to cover medical costs.

The Transport Ministry has also identified local volunteers who will double up as first responders. They are being trained in consultation with the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.

Special patrol vehicles will ensure compliance of traffic rules such as use of seat belts and helmets, and check on drunk driving. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which is another stakeholder, will put up signboards every 500 m displaying emergency numbers in case of an accident.

The Haryana and Rajasthan governments will also be closely associated with the project.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Ministers of State for Road Transport & Highways Tushar A Chaudhary and Sarvey Sathyanarayana were amongst those present. In 2012, 147 persons were killed in 247 accidents on the NH-8 stretch falling in Gurgaon district.