ComfortDelGro taxi drivers aid in delivery of medical supplies to homes

Public healthcare institutions can now tap ComfortDelGro taxi drivers to deliver medicine to patients with pre-existing conditions who require regular top-ups.

ComfortDelGro Taxi said on 2 June 2020 that the drivers will need to undergo online training before they can start delivering medicine to patients' homes.

"They are to also ensure that all medication is transported in accordance to the temperature requirements," said the firm, which is the largest taxi operator here, with a fleet of about 10,000 taxis. "They will also be taught to ensure that the parcels are kept away from direct sunlight, heat and moisture.

"Upon delivery, cabbies have to verify the identity of the recipient before signing off on behalf of the recipient to minimise contact." The service is in partnership with Alps, a healthcare logistics firm set up by the National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and Singapore Health Services.

Delivery fees are charged by the distance travelled, with a starting fee of $6.50 for up to the first three kilometers. The cabbies will keep all of the fee, which they will receive via credit into their bank accounts. The public healthcare institutions will book the service via the ComfortDelivery platform, which currently has almost 2,000 drivers.

The expansion of the firm's delivery service comes after the Land Transport Authority extended the temporary liberalisation of restrictions on such services till end-September. Taxi drivers and their private-hire counterparts have suffered a drastic drop in income due to the plunge in demand for point-to-point services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures to combat it.

ComfortDelGro Taxi Chief Executive Ang Wei Neng said the move to let cabbies deliver medicine will give drivers more options in the next three months. ComfortDelGro cabbies interested to sign up for delivery jobs can write to comfortdelivery @ cdgtaxi.com.sg.

Taxi driver Jade Cho, 46, said she is looking forward to the additional option, having done multiple food deliveries. "Although there are stricter guidelines for medication delivery, I am confident that I can easily switch between delivering food and medicine and fulfil each order," she said. The Straits Times has contacted Alps for further comment on the initiative.