New Delhi:
The Supreme Court on Wednesday reprimanded the center to fail to implement a cashless medical treatment plan which includes access to emergency aid during ‘Golden Hour’ – that is, after suffering a person suffering from severe trauma, first 60 minutes, for people survived by road accidents.
The court had ordered the implementation of the cashless treatment scheme by 14 March.
“The time given to the government ended on March 14 … It is a very serious violation and a violation of an order of this court and failure to implement a very beneficial provision …”
Senior officials, including the Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, were called by a top court. They are visible for “Explain the default …” on 28 April
Justice Abhay Oka said, “This has been our long experience … only when we receive top government officials, they take the court orders seriously. Otherwise they will not take it …” Justice Abhay S. Oka said.
“We are making it very clear … We will issue a notice of contempt if we find no progress. People are losing their lives because there is no cure …” he strictly said.
In January, the court directed the Center to frame a plan for emergency medical assistance for those who survive immediate road accidents, especially in ‘Golden Hour’ cases and in those where family or close friends may not be available to help pay for living.
The bench, led by Justice Oka, said that buyers, police and even hospitals sometimes wait to take initiative for the other, especially in cases where a lot of money is spent in treatment. This practice, the court said that people’s lives risk.
The court also mentioned that Section 162 (2) of the amended Motor Vehicles Act included a mandate to provide cashless emergency medical treatment of people survived by insurance companies, and said it was not implemented.
Plans for cashless medical treatment for people survived by road accidents, especially during ‘Golden Hour’, were first floated by the Center in December 2023.
