To help contain the spread of COVID-19 in India, ride-hailing giant Uber said on March 31 that it has launched a new service, UberMedic, to transport frontline healthcare workers.

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"Uber is providing a new service, UberMedic, to transport frontline healthcare workers and help the government contain the spread of COVID-19 in India," the President, Uber India and South Asia, said in a statement. "Working closely with a network of hospitals and leveraging our global experience and technology, UberMedic allows hospitals to easily and reliably arrange transportation for doctors and other health workers to and from their homes as well as to healthcare facilities," the President said.

UberMedic is designed to ensure that all healthcare workers who need to be mobile have a reliable and efficient way of getting around. "We hope that this 24/7 dedicated service gives hospitals and their healthcare workers the flexibility to provide optimal healthcare," Uber said in a statement. Uber said it will facilitate top-rated drivers and dedicated cars to the hospitals through its platform.

Keeping the safety of drivers in mind, and in line with the government advisory, it will work with partner hospitals to provide drivers with personal protective equipment (PPE), including hand sanitisers, gloves, disinfectant sprays and face masks. The drivers will be well-trained in COVID-19 related safety protocols, such as not allowing riders to sit in the front passenger seat, Uber said. "We will also provide dedicated phone support to our riders who use this service," it added.