PMJAY for Road Accident and Trauma Victims
Road accidents are one of the leading causes of death and disability in India. PM-JAY provides immediate, cashless emergency care for accident victims at empanelled hospitals. Critically, emergency treatment does not require prior authorisation — the hospital must treat first and complete PM-JAY paperwork later.
Emergency Treatment — No Pre-Authorisation Needed
When an accident victim arrives at a PMJAY empanelled hospital, the hospital is required to start emergency treatment immediately. The Emergency Room Package covers initial stabilisation, resuscitation, emergency diagnostic tests (X-rays, CT scan, blood tests), and life-saving interventions within the first 12-24 hours.
The PM-JAY pre-authorisation can be completed within 24 hours of admission. The patient or family just needs to provide the Ayushman Bharat card and Aadhaar card. If the patient is unconscious and no family is available, the hospital should still treat and complete PM-JAY verification when the family arrives.
What Is Covered for Accident Victims
Emergency Room Care: Initial stabilisation, airway management, blood transfusion, emergency imaging (CT scan, X-rays), and initial surgical interventions.
Polytrauma Management: PM-JAY has a dedicated Polytrauma specialty for patients with injuries to multiple body systems — multiple fractures, head injury with fractures, chest trauma with abdominal injury, etc. Covers extended ICU care, multiple surgeries, and long hospitalisation.
Fracture Fixation: Surgical treatment of all fractures including femur, tibia, spine, pelvis, arm, and wrist. Cost of implants (plates, screws, nails) is included.
Head Injury and Brain Surgery: Craniotomy for blood clot evacuation (subdural or epidural haematoma), decompressive craniectomy for brain swelling, and ICP monitoring. Covers prolonged ICU stay with ventilator support.
Spinal Cord Injury: Surgical stabilisation of spinal fractures, decompression of spinal cord, and spinal fusion. Covers implants and extended rehabilitation.
Internal Organ Injury: Surgery for ruptured spleen, liver laceration, intestinal perforation, and other internal injuries from blunt or penetrating trauma.
What to Do Immediately After an Accident
Step 1: Call an ambulance — dial 108 (free emergency ambulance service available in most states) or 112 (emergency number).
Step 2: Get the victim to the nearest hospital. Any hospital — not necessarily a PMJAY empanelled one. The Supreme Court of India has mandated that no hospital can refuse emergency treatment to an accident victim.
Step 3: Once stabilised, if the hospital is not empanelled under PMJAY, the patient can be transferred to an empanelled hospital for further treatment under the scheme.
Step 4: Family members should bring the PM-JAY card and Aadhaar card to the hospital as soon as possible for PM-JAY verification.
Good Samaritan Protection
If you witness a road accident and help the victim get to a hospital, you are protected under the Good Samaritan Law. You cannot be detained by the police or harassed by the hospital for bringing in an accident victim. The Supreme Court has made this clear.
Find trauma hospitals near you: Search for Polytrauma hospitals on PMJAYHospitals.com.
Disclaimer: PMJAYHospitals.com is an independent directory. For official PM-JAY information, visit pmjay.gov.in or call 14555.