Member Article

Gett’s trainee cabbies to deliver medicine thanks to Cera partnership

On-demand social care startup Cera has followed up its high-profile partnership with Uber last month with a new agreement with taxi app rival Gett that will see trainee cabbies delivering medicines across London.

As part of the arrangement, cabbies undertaking the rigorous training required to drive around the capital’s famously sinewy streets will also double up as Cera couriers, delivering non-prescription items such as rehydration sachets, pain killers and flu remedies to users.

The service will initially launch in zones 1 and 2, allowing users or carers themselves to order medicines direct to a patient’s home within the hour, delivered by Gett’s ‘knowledge boys’ and ‘knowledge girls’ on scooters.

Cera says the new service has the potential to dramatically cut down on unnecessary hospital and GP visits, after research found that many elderly patients’ emergency hospital visits could have been avoided had they had more access to over-the-counter medicines.

Dr. Ben Maruthappu, Co-founder and President of Cera, said: “At Cera we are committed to delivering comprehensive and high quality care for older people – this partnership provides patients with access to rapid, responsive and on-demand services that have proved successful in other industries, while empowering our carer-workers.

“The right medication at the right time can make the difference between an A&E admission, and an evening at home. By partnering with innovative companies such as Gett we are building technology–enabled care solutions that benefit patients, families, carers and the NHS alike.”

Cera has begun to ramp up its services in recent months after officially launching in November last year, with a doubling of its seed round recently and its partnership with Uber which would see the ride hailing giant ferrying its carers around the capital.

Following the announcement of the new partnership, Matteo de Renzi, Managing Director of Gett in Western Europe, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Cera, helping to keep elderly people in London healthy and in their own homes.

“Gett is all about making life easier - we can provide a highly trained black cab driver in minutes at the tap a screen, or a courier to move things around the capital on demand. I’m delighted we can now also support Cera’s patients and carers with this unique service, keeping them well and out of hospital.”

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