NHA, Uber team up to help transport healthcare workers

National Health Authority has announced a tie-up with ride-hailing platform Uber to provide transport service to frontline healthcare workers in the country, who are engaged in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Uber will initially facilitate the provision of 150 cars free of cost to support medical facilities in New Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Prayagraj and Patna through its recently launched UberMedic service, according to a statement from NHA and Uber.

All UberMedic cars supplied to NHA will be equipped with roof-to-floor plastic sheeting enclosing the driver's seat, thereby acting as a protective barrier between the rider and driver, it added.

Additionally, each UberMedic car will be disinfected after every ride to ensure the highest possible safety and hygiene standards in line with government guidelines, the statement said.

Indu Bhushan, chief executive officer of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY) and National Health Authority, said the partnership with Uber in this hour of need was a much-needed initiative to extend necessary support to the healthcare workers who are leading this fight against COVID-19.

“All drivers will be specially trained in safety procedures and provided with personal protective equipment including masks, sanitisers, and disinfectants to sanitise UberMedic cars after each ride,” Uber India and South Asia President Pradeep Parameswaran said.

With the implementation of the 21-day lockdown, the government has allowed only people in essential services like healthcare, banking, and media to commute. Limited mobility options have made it difficult for these people to travel to their workplace.

“Limited mobility options had made it difficult for frontline workers to travel to their workplaces which is the hospital. This initiative will further strengthen India's response to contain the spread of COVID-19,” Bhushan added.