Karnataka Health dept to enforce rules for helping accident victims

The Health department is all set to operationalise the Karnataka Good Samaritan and Medical Professional (Protection and Regulation During Emergency Situations) Rules, 2026, to protect victims of road accidents and people helping the victims.

While the law was initially passed in 2018, the new section offers clarity on the complaint authority, police disciplinary mechanism, creation and detailing of the ‘Good Samaritan Fund’ and reimbursement for the hospitals treating victims.

According to a government order, if a police officer or doctor fails to help accident victims, a complaint can be filed with the deputy commissioner and police officers can face action under the police disciplinary action.

The ‘Good Samaritan Fund’ will be drawn from CSR funds, donations, government road safety funds, other government schemes and loans if necessary, the order said.

If patients are unable to pay for treatment, the hospital should continue to administer treatment. The hospital can later claim the money from Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust under the Arogya Bharat Arogya Karnataka.

The hospital will be paid according to government rates. A medical expert committee will also take a decision on the rates, if the hospital is not listed in government rates, read the order. The hospital can also meet the Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare if it is not happy with the pricing.