Right to trauma care is major part of Right to Life, says SC; Issues instructions for Helpline 112

Observing that right to trauma care of citizens is an integral part of right to life, the Supreme Court has stressed on the need to have systemic intervention, a uniform framework for trauma care, and proper good samaritan laws.

The Supreme Court has also asked all Indian states and Union Territories to complete the operational and technical integration of emergency and ambulance helplines into Helpline 112 within three months. The court has also asked to establish physical and digital good samaritan grievance redressal systems with designated nodal authorities, furnish periodic compliance reports, organise monthly meetings, and upload the minutes of these meetings to the concerned portals within this time.

The order was passed in a plea filed by Savelife Foundation, which said the need for trauma care should be recognised as a matter of right in the country's public law system. Trauma care is the treatment for life-threatening injuries caused by events like road accidents, violence or falls. The Delhi-based NGO focuses on road safety and emergency medical care across India and runs many programmes to address health issues and rehabilitation. 

Medical rescue protocol
The court said, "All states/UTs shall ensure:
a) Full automative industry standard-125 (AIS-125) compliance across all registered ambulances (public and private)
b) Mandate Global Positioning System (GPS)/vehicle location tracking device (VLTD) fitment and real-time integration with helpline 112
c) Conduct periodic structured audits (response times, quality of care, equipment, outcomes) with compliance reporting to a designated union-level authority, within a period of three months.

d) Undertake sustained, structured, multi-lingual mass-media campaigns covering helpline 112, the good samaritan protection under Section 134A of the Motor Vehicles Act and the grievance redressal system, the cashless treatment scheme (PM RAHAT) with defined obligations and compliance reporting within a month.
e) All states and UTs that have not yet adopted the cashless treatment of road accident victims scheme, 2025 - PM RAHAT, shall take necessary steps to fully operationalise the said schemes within a period of three months, the court said.