Burn, acid attack and accident victims to get free treatment

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government issued guidelines for free treatment of accident, acid burns and fire victims in the national capital on Saturday. The AAP government said that the free treatment is "mandatory". This covers all kinds of medical facilities, including private establishments and nursing homes.

"There will be cashless treatment of medico-legal victims of road accidents, acid attacks and thermal burn injuries, in case of incidents that have occurred within city limits. The treatment will be held in registered nursing homes or private hospitals in the city," the guidelines stated.

Also, more importantly, victims will not be required to carry any documents for the purpose of verification/eligibility, except that the incident has occurred in the jurisdiction of Delhi Police.

The medical facilities treating the victims will be reimbursed through 'Delhi Arogya Kosh', the guidelines said.

The guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare includes the eligibility criteria of domicile and income status of the victim for receiving cashless treatment.

''The keeper of the nursing home/private hospital will give the details of the victim preferably within six hours of his/her arrival on email or SMS the requisite details on mobile numbers, name of the nursing home and address, casualty record number and Emergency Registration among other details,'' it said.

According to the guidelines, a nursing home or private hospital registered under the Delhi Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1953, cannot refuse treatment to the injured/serious patients brought to them due to any reason whatsoever. It said that under Section 357 C of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CPC), the keepers of all private hospitals will immediately provide first-aid or medical treatment, free of cost, to the victims and will immediately inform the police of such an incident.

"A nursing home can be exempted from this scheme if it has taken prior approval of the Supervising Authority regarding exemption of the availability of doctors at night in accordance to Clause 13.1 of Delhi Nursing Homes Registration (Amendment) Rules, 2011,'' the guidelines said.

However, all registered nursing homes or private hospitals which have not been provided exemption under the 2011 Act, will have to implement the scheme

HOW IT WILL WORK 

• The medical facilities -- hospitals and nursing homes -- treating the victims will be reimbursed through ‘Delhi Arogya Kosh’, the guidelines issued on Saturday said
   
• Victims will not be required to carry any documents for the purpose of verification, except that the incident should have occurred in the jurisdiction of Delhi Police