Speech by Mr Amrin Amin, Parliamentary Secretary for Health, at the re-launch of uberASSIST, 20 November 2017

1.         Good afternoon everyone. It gives me great pleasure to be part of the launch of UberASSIST in Singapore.  

2.        This is a very good initiative especially since our population will age rapidly in the next decade. By 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 years and above. While there are challenges, there are also opportunities. 

3.         On the part of individuals, ageing need not be a concern. Rather, if we continue to keep active and healthy, we can live many more years of meaningful life, and continue to grow and develop in our silver years.  

4.         Population ageing can also present new opportunities, especially if we can leverage on technology and innovative solutions, to create new services to meet the needs of a growing silver population, such as the UberASSIST.  

5.         This collaboration with Uber is part of the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC)’s efforts to partner the private sector to reinvent the delivery of transport services for seniors.  

6.         As our population ages, there is an increased need for escort and transport services to help seniors with mobility issues to access healthcare and other services. We received feedback that we need to do more, and make transport more accessible for our seniors, AIC decided to partner Uber to outreach to its vast network of driver-partners, to be involved in helping our seniors get from place to place. Driver-partners are trained to better assist passengers with disability or mobility challenges onto the car. We have more than 500 of such driver-partners with vehicles that can accommodate wheelchairs and mobility devices.  

7.         Earlier this year, AIC has also worked with the Red Cross to engage retired seniors to provide paid medical escort. These trained staff can help to accompany seniors with mobility issues to attend their medical appointments, by calling for a taxi or hired car. 

8.         The seniors can be paired flexibly with befrienders or staff trained in escorting seniors, to provide more timely and flexible support for seniors needing to travel. This is a game changer in the delivery of transport services that can benefit both seniors and persons with disabilities (PWDs) as well as their caregivers. We thank UberASSIST for helping to make transport more accessible for seniors. I wish everyone here to remain active, and continue to receive care in the community. 

9.         Uber’s collaboration with AIC on UberASSIST, is an example of how we can all work together to promote a friendlier and more inclusive environment for our seniors and PWDs. Partners like Uber help to translate our vision of a Smart Nation for All Ages. We will need more of such partnerships as we work to address the needs of our ageing population.  

10.       I look forward to many of such initiatives so that our seniors can age well and enjoy their senior years. Thank you.