Free Shared Taxis Bring Health Check-ups to Rural Hsinchu Residents

Taipei Veterans General Hospital Hsinchu Branch is breaking down traditional healthcare barriers with an innovative free shared taxi service. This initiative targets remote areas in Hsinchu County, ensuring that elderly, disabled, and mobility-impaired residents can access vital health services without transportation being an obstacle.

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This year, we launched the 'Free Taxi Reservation and Shared Ride Service for Rural Health Check-ups.' We proactively broke away from the traditional model of 'waiting for patients to come' and brought medical resources into rural communities.

The program, which began in March, has already served 117 residents over three months. It involves collaboration with five rural health centers in Hengshan, Emei, Beipu, Baoshan, and Qionglin. These centers identify residents in need, and the hospital then coordinates free point-to-point taxi services. Qionglin Health Center, for example, has referred nearly 10 individuals for mammograms through this service.

This innovative approach addresses the challenge of accessing advanced cancer screenings like mammograms and low-dose CT scans, which are often concentrated in hospitals far from rural communities. By providing flexible, door-to-door transportation, the service not only improves access to care but also increases the efficiency of vehicle use. It significantly reduces the burden on families who would otherwise need to accompany patients or take time off work.

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In the past three months, we have successfully benefited 117 rural residents.

The hospital has created an integrated care model that includes community outreach, screening referrals, dedicated transportation, and follow-up for abnormal results. This comprehensive chain of care ensures that residents receive continuous support. The most common referrals have been for mammograms (breast cancer), LDCT scans (lung cancer), and stomach cancer screenings. Several individuals have already benefited from early detection and prompt treatment thanks to this program.

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The introduction of this free taxi reservation and shared ride model provides more flexible point-to-point services, improves vehicle utilization efficiency, and greatly reduces the pressure on family members for陪診 (accompanying patients) and taking leave.