The move comes through a circular issued by the Department of Health and Family Welfare on September 3, emphasizing the legal and ethical duty of healthcare providers to offer immediate care without demanding advance payment.
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According to TNIE, “Under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2007, ‘accident victim’ means not only road accidents but also accidental or induced burns or poisoning or criminal assault and the like, which are medico-legal or potential medico-legal cases,” the circular said.
Under this Act, emergency treatment is a legal obligation, and any failure to provide it could result in fines of up to ₹1 lakh. For repeat or serious violations, penalties can increase to ₹5 lakh, along with the possibility of criminal charges and cancellation of medical licences.
The Karnataka Good Samaritan and Medical Professional Act, 2016, also mandates that first aid must be provided free of cost.
The directive also references the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which places a legal duty on doctors and hospitals to treat accident victims without delay or discrimination. Additionally, the Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025, provides for up to ₹1.5 lakh worth of free treatment for seven days in designated hospitals. These costs are reimbursed from the Motor Vehicles Accident Fund.
Karnataka has also implemented its own cashless accident care scheme, offering 48 hours of free treatment, covering 76 life-saving procedures. This is available at government hospitals, medical colleges, and private hospitals empanelled under the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust.
Also Read: Karnataka Govt enforces strict duty hours, bans private practice for doctors
Medical Dialogues had previously reported that the Karnataka government has issued a stern warning to government doctors against engaging in Private practice during duty hours. Medical Education Minister Sharanprakash Patil warned that doctors working in government medical colleges who violate this rule will face disciplinary action, along with deductions in their leave days and salary.
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