Amidst all the recent news of discrimination against healthcare workers, Grab has stepped up to the plate to do their part.
From Friday (14 Feb), healthcare workers will have a new service catered exclusively to them.
GrabCare is a new on-demand dedicated service that ferries healthcare professionals to-and-from hospitals.
It will be available to staff at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) for now.
Grab intends to expand their scope to include other hospitals soon.
Of course, don’t start thinking you can use GrabCare just by claiming you’re a nurse.
Grab is currently sourcing details on staff members from NCID and TTSH, and will include relevant staff submitted by the hospitals in a list.
Only those on this list will be able to use the service.
For approved staff, they will find that a new ‘GrabCare’ option has been added in their Grab apps. They will then be matched to drivers who have indicated an interest in ferrying healthcare professionals.
According to the Straits Times (ST), about 2,000 drivers have signed up so far to help in fighting the good fight.
Private-hire driver Michael Lee, 54, told ST that he just wanted to do his part. He said:
I’m heartened by our healthcare workers, who have had the courage to continue their battle against the virus, and we should stand together to do all we can to support them by giving them peace of mind when they commute
We could use more people like Mr Lee.
Minister Khaw Boon Wan, who was Health Minister during the SARS crisis in 2003, praised the initiative in a Facebook post on Wednesday (12 Feb).
The stories emerging from Wuhan of brave healthcare workers reminded him of our own healthcare heroes during the SARS crisis.
Minister Khaw said:
I personally witnessed so many brave acts of our healthcare workers… That is why it is heart-wrenching to read of some who shun our healthcare workers.
Of course, Covid-19 has also produced great stories, and Minister Khaw emphasised that our healthcare workers deserve all the support we can give.
GrabCare represents a step in the right direction. Our citizens are stepping up too. Hopefully, these are just the first examples of many others to come.
Featured image adapted from New Mobility Global and AFP. Right picture for illustration purposes only.
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