New Delhi: The National Health Authority has announced its partnership with Uber India to provide safe, reliable and efficient transport for India’s frontline healthcare workers 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. 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.

 

The pilot scheme meets the Prime Minister’s goal of practicing social distancing even within the confines of an UberMedic car. Additionally, each UberMedic car will be disinfected after every ride to ensure the highest possible safety and hygiene standards in line with government guidelines.

 

Dr. Indu Bhushan, CEO, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and National Health Authority said, “The partnership with Uber in this hour of need is a much needed initiative to extend necessary support to the healthcare workers who are leading this fight against COVID-19. 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.”

 

Mr. Pradeep Parameswaran, President, Uber India and South Asia said, “Uber is proud to partner with the National Health Authority to offer free UberMedic rides to transport frontline healthcare workers in specific locations for helping contain the spread of COVID-19. All drivers will be specially trained in safety procedures and provided with personal protective equipment including masks, sanitizers and disinfectants to sanitize UberMedic cars after each ride. Uber salutes all our frontline healthcare workers and will continue supporting them and the government in the days and weeks ahead.”

 

About Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY): 

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is the flagship scheme of Government of India that provides a cover of up to Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year, for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 10.74 Crore poor and vulnerable families (about 53 crore beneficiaries). AB PM-JAY provides cashless and paperless access to services for the beneficiaries at the point of service. Under this scheme there are 1,578 health benefit packages with defined rates. Over 20,000 public and private hospitals have been empanelled across the country to provide inpatient services to the beneficiaries. Since its launch in September 2018, more than 95 lakh hospital treatments worth nearly Rs. 13,000 Cr have been provided under the scheme. More than 12 crore e-cards have been issued across the 32 States and UTs implementing the scheme.