Eunpyeong-gu Provides Additional 'I-Mom Taxi' Vouchers to Health-Vulnerable Infants and Toddlers' Families

Hospital Visit Service for Pregnant Women and Families with Infants Under 24 Months

A dedicated taxi service for pregnant women and families with infants, Eunpyeong-gu 'I-Mom Taxi' in use. (Photo by Eunpyeong-gu Office)

Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced on the 18th that it will expand the ‘I-Mom Taxi’ service to allow families with infants and toddlers suffering from pediatric cancer and rare incurable diseases to use the service a total of 20 times.

This service expansion was adopted as an excellent proposal in the ‘2024 Eunpyeong-gu Idea Review Committee Results,’ based on ideas submitted by residents. The expansion aims to accompany socially vulnerable groups by providing additional usage vouchers to families with infants and toddlers who are more vulnerable health-wise and require regular hospital treatments.

‘I-Mom Taxi’ is a transportation service in Eunpyeong-gu that allows pregnant women or families with children under 24 months to use the service free of charge up to 10 times when visiting hospitals. This time, an additional 10 rides have been added for families with infants and toddlers suffering from pediatric cancer and rare incurable diseases, allowing them to use the service 20 times in total.

The service has been in operation since 2020 and has been improved annually, including expanding destinations and providing hospital accompaniment services. As of this month, the cumulative number of registered members is 7,400, and the number of rides has reached 42,000.

A dedicated driver operates the service, and the large van, which can accommodate large strollers, is equipped with car seats and vehicle air purifiers. Daily disinfection of the vehicle interior is mandatory to ensure safety and thorough quarantine management. Additionally, the service covers long-distance travel to 14 general hospitals in the Seoul area, making it especially necessary for health-vulnerable families who need to regularly visit large hospitals.

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, said, “We will pay attention to the difficulties faced by health-vulnerable families balancing childcare and hospital treatment and create a city that is good for raising children through warmer social interest and consideration.”