Karnataka Plans Rs 2.5 Lakh Free Treatment For Road Accident Victims For First Seven Days: Health Minister

Karwar: The Karnataka government is considering an ambitious scheme to provide free medical treatment of up to ₹2.5 lakh for road accident victims during the first seven days of hospitalisation, irrespective of whether they are residents of Karnataka, other Indian states or foreign nationals, Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader announced on Tuesday.

Speaking after inaugurating a new Trauma Care Centre and Emergency Treatment Unit at the Kumta Government Hospital in Uttara Kannada district, Khader said the proposal is aimed at ensuring that accident victims receive immediate medical attention without concerns over treatment costs.

The minister said the proposal has already been discussed with the Chief Minister and is intended to remove hesitation among bystanders and family members over who would bear the cost of emergency treatment. The initiative seeks to prioritise saving lives during the critical "golden hour" following road accidents.

Khader also announced that the government is working on a new ambulance response system under which emergency ambulances must reach accident sites within 15 minutes of receiving a distress call. He said legislation is being planned to impose penalties ranging from ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 on ambulance service providers if they fail to meet the prescribed response time without valid reasons.

The minister further said the government would introduce stricter measures under the Food Safety Act to prevent the sale of unhealthy junk food in schools. He added that high-tech food testing laboratories would be established to curb food adulteration and improve food safety standards across the state.

Addressing the issue of manpower shortages in government hospitals, Khader said directions have been issued to fill vacant posts of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and laboratory technicians in all taluk hospitals through both permanent and contractual appointments.

Describing the newly inaugurated trauma care centre at Kumta as the third such facility under the state health department, Khader said its location near the National Highway would significantly strengthen emergency care for accident victims in the region.

"My objective as Health Minister is not merely to build more hospitals, but to create awareness and preventive healthcare systems so that people need hospitals less often," he said.

The minister also directed Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) officials to develop a modern mortuary with seating arrangements for families, fans, a police inquest room and freezer facilities. He suggested that BEL, MRPL and other public sector organisations support the centre's future expansion through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

Kumta MLA Dinakar Shetty said the trauma care centre was constructed at a cost of ₹2.73 crore, fully funded by BEL under its CSR programme, while the local Rotary Club contributed over ₹1.70 crore towards healthcare infrastructure. He urged the government to further upgrade the hospital with advanced medical facilities.