Nammai Kaakkum 48 Scheme 2026: Free Road Accident Treatment Up to Rs 2 Lakh in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu government's Nammai Kaakkum 48 scheme provides free emergency treatment to road accident victims in the first 48 hours after an accident. The scheme, launched under the Innuyir Kappom Thittam, now covers up to Rs 2 lakh of cashless treatment at 721 empanelled government and private hospitals across the state. This article explains the complete details of the Nammai Kaakkum 48 scheme.

Nammai Kaakkum 48, which means saving our lives in 48 hours, was launched by Former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on 18 November 2021. The scheme was created to cut down deaths from road traffic accidents by making sure victims get emergency care within the golden first 48 hours. The treatment is free for all road accident victims, including people from other states and countries, and those who do not have any insurance cover.

Nammai Kaakkum 48 Scheme: Key Details

The scheme has grown steadily since it was launched. The cashless treatment ceiling for the first 48 hours was raised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh through a government order. As many as 500 locations across Tamil Nadu have been identified as high-accident zones, and 721 hospitals, including 473 private and 248 government hospitals, have been empanelled near these zones to provide free care.

Under the scheme, a reward of Rs 5,000 is also given to people who bring an accident victim to the hospital within the first 48 hours. This reward encourages the public to act fast and help save lives. The scheme is dovetailed with the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS), so treatment beyond the first 48 hours is covered under the insurance scheme.

The scheme has already helped a large number of people. Over 3.20 lakh road accident victims were taken to hospitals under the scheme, and the government spent around Rs 280 crore on the treatment. In January 2026, the SRM Hospital in Chengalpattu marked the 5,00,000th beneficiary under the scheme, showing how widely it has been used across the state.

Benefits of Nammai Kaakkum 48 Scheme

The main benefit of the scheme is free emergency treatment for road accident victims in the first 48 hours. The treatment covers life-saving procedures and is provided without any cost to the patient, regardless of their financial condition or whether they have insurance.

How the Scheme Works

When a road accident happens, the victim is taken to the nearest empanelled hospital. The hospital provides emergency treatment within the first 48 hours, and the cost is covered by the government under the scheme. There is no need for the victim or the family to pay anything upfront for the treatment during this period.

People who bring an accident victim to the hospital within the first 48 hours can get a reward of Rs 5,000. This is part of the scheme's effort to turn road safety into a people's movement and encourage quick action from the public.

Tamil Nadu Medical Emergencies Act

Along with the scheme, the Tamil Nadu government planned to frame a Medical Emergencies Act. The act focuses on five main elements: emergency response, rescue and resuscitation, damage control surgeries, bringing people back to normalcy, and rehabilitation. The idea is to help more people support road accident victims, create awareness, set protocols, and bring in a standard of care.

The state also planned to set up a road safety authority to offer administrative and financial support for road safety policies, keep a registry, research the causes of accidents, and monitor road design and quality. Students from schools and colleges, NGOs, and members of the public are being involved to turn road safety into a people's movement.

Official Website and More Information

For the latest details on the Nammai Kaakkum 48 scheme, including the list of empanelled hospitals and the treatment packages, visit the official website at cmchistn.com. The scheme is run by the Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Department through the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project.

For more on Tamil Nadu health schemes, check the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme and the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam Scheme.

Source / Reference Link: Times of India report on the scheme