HCMC – Ride-hailing firm Grab Vietnam is using 40 cabs for its GrabCar Medical service to transport samples to Covid-19 testing labs in Hanoi at no charge, aimed at supporting the Covid-safe drive in the capital city.
The operations of the GrabCar Medical service will be similar to that of the original GrabCar service. Healthcare workers can book the free service on the Grab app or use the GrabNow feature to directly connect with drivers.
All operation costs of the GrabCar Medical service, including money to purchase medical protective gear and support driver-partners, will come from the ride-hailing firm’s budget. The participation in this service by the driver-partners will be on a voluntary basis, given the GrabCar service in Hanoi being suspended from July 24 upon the authorities’ order to serve the Covid fight.
Besides this, Grab is closely working with the municipal transport and health authorities to roll out the GrabCar Emergency service to offer free transportation services for Covid patients to and from hospitals in Hanoi. The GrabCar Emergency service is expected to be launched in Hanoi next month.
Earlier, the Singapore-based ride-hailing firm on August 20 launched the GrabCar Medical service with 100 cabs in HCMC to provide free rides to medical workers between hospitals and their homes, recovered patients from hospitals to their residences and to implement the other Covid-related tasks of the competent agencies in the southern hub.
As of August 22, Grab had completed 125 free rides to transport medical workers and recovered Covid patients to their homes safely.
