NEW DELHI, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- The local government in Indian capital city of Delhi has decided to pay all the hospital bills for victims of road accidents, burns or acid attacks in its vicinity, a government officials said Wednesday.
"Under a new scheme, the Delhi government has proposed to bear the cost of treatment of victims of road accidents, fire incidents and acid attacks that take place within the geographical jurisdiction of Delhi," a government spokesman said.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday.
"Accident victim scheme that we were working on for the past three months has been approved," local Health Minister Satyendra Jain told media. "As per the scheme - if some accident takes place on the roads of Delhi, or there is a victim in a fire incident, or an acid attack victim - all the expenses for the treatment of victims in these categories would be paid by Delhi government."
According to officials the proposal would be sent to Delhi Lt. Governor Anil Baijal for final approval.
There is no upper cap on the expenses borne by the government.
"Irrespective of domicile, the victims will get free treatment if the mishaps take place within the geographical jurisdiction of Delhi," a government official said. "Though the treatment is already free in government hospitals, but bills incurred during treatment of the victims at private hospitals will also be paid by the government."
Analysts say the decision to introduce accident victim scheme would go a long way in saving lives of accident victims, many of whom fail to survive because crucial time is lost in locating government hospitals after accidents.
