3 months ago
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Proposing a structured mechanics to reimburse hospitals that supply contiguous attraction during the aureate hr to persons incapable to pay, the Karnataka authorities has published the draught Karnataka Good Samaritan and Medical Professional (Protection and Regulation During Emergency Situations) Rules, 2026.
The rules, notified connected Friday, question to operationalise provisions of the Karnataka Good Samaritan and Medical Professional (Protection and Regulation During Emergency Situations) Act, 2018, which makes it mandatory for each hospitals, nationalist and private, to widen archetypal assistance and stabilisation successful emergencies. The authorities has invited objections and suggestions wrong 15 days.
The Act protects individuals who voluntarily assistance mishap victims from civil/criminal liability and constabulary harassment. It ensures anonymity for rescuers, prohibits mandatory witness, and mandates contiguous escaped exigency care.
All emergencies
Harsh Gupta, Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare), told The Hindu that the draught rules addressed a long-felt request for clarity connected payments portion reinforcing protections for Good Samaritans.
Pointing retired that the explanation of exigency attraction was being interpreted broadly successful practice, the Principal Secretary said, “It is not constricted to roadworthy accidents. Heart attacks, strokes, terrible injuries, burns, poisoning, obstetric emergencies oregon immoderate different emergencies — the rules present mandate that patients indispensable beryllium stabilised without delay.”
Mr. Gupta said, “We privation to guarantee that nary infirmary hesitates to supply exigency attraction during the aureate hr due to the fact that of uncertainty implicit who volition carnivore the cost. These rules laic down a clear, time-bound way for reimbursement. Ours is astir apt the archetypal State to notify specified rules.”
SAST reimbursement
Under the rules, if expenses cannot beryllium recovered from the diligent oregon family, the infirmary — wrong 1 period from the day of attraction — tin taxable a assertion to the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST), the State’s wellness assurance agency.
Mr. Gupta said that empanelled hospitals would beryllium paid according to bundle rates nether Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK) scheme. For non-empanelled facilities SAST tin authorisation the expenditure astatine the rates admissible nether the ABArK strategy oregon the latest HBP (Health Benefit Package) rates nether PMJAY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana), whichever is higher.
“The thought is to support the process azygous and transparent,” helium said.
Appellate mechanism
The draught provides for an appellate mechanics arsenic well. Any quality regarding eligibility oregon outgo whitethorn beryllium taken up with the Health Commissioner, whose determination would beryllium final.
The rules besides envisage the instauration of a Good Samaritan Fund. Apart from authorities allocations, it whitethorn person donations and firm societal work contributions, including enactment routed done the Karnataka Road Safety Authority.
The money tin beryllium utilized to wide infirmary claims and to compensate Good Samaritans who whitethorn incur question expenses oregon wage nonaccomplishment portion assisting victims oregon cooperating with ineligible processes.
“We besides privation to recognise citizens who measurement guardant to help. Saving a beingness should ne'er go a ineligible oregon fiscal burden,” Mr. Gupta said.
