GoJek has started a car ride-hailing service with 50 vehicles in HCM City to initially serve frontline healthcare workers. Photo courtesy of GoJek

HCM CITY— Gojek has unveiled car ride-hailing service GoCar to support COVID-19 frontline workers in HCM City.

The company has launched the service with 50 vehicles to serve healthcare workers at five hospitals, COVID intensive care units supported by Bạch Mai Hospital, Việt Đức Hospital and the Huế Central Hospital, the HCMC Department of Health, and the HCMC Centre for Disease Control.

The list of medical facilities could be extended further on the advice of the city Department of Health.

All drivers are required to follow the company’s strict health and hygiene protocols, which include taking a PCR test before their first trip and on a weekly basis after that, wearing personal protective equipment and strictly following the government’s COVID-prevention protocols.

Gojek has arranged for them to stay at hotels from now until late September when the city’s social distancing campaign is scheduled to end.

Đức Phùng, the company’s general manager said: “We made all the necessary preparations to launch GoCar this year. When the pandemic escalated in HCM City and social distancing regulations were put in place, we pivoted quickly, adjusting the service to focus on supporting healthcare workers.

“When the situation is safer - and restrictions are eased - we will of course extend the GoCar offering to the wider public."

GoCar is the latest addition to Gojek’s line-up, which include motorbike hailing (GoRide), parcel delivery (GoSend) and online food delivery (GoFood).  VNS