Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality has launched the Social Taxi Project to support cancer patients by providing transport between their homes and hospitals during treatment.
The Department of Services for Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly has implemented the Social Taxi Project under the motto “Accessible Shared Life” to serve cancer patients travelling between home and hospital. Operating under the Sub-Directorate of Rare and Chronic Diseases, the Social Taxi service will pick up cancer patients who face difficulties with transport from their homes and take them to the hospitals where they receive treatment. Once their treatment is completed during the day, patients will be taken back home by the Social Taxi.
The service, designed to reduce the risk of infection and ensure easier access to hospitals during treatment, will provide free transport for citizens.
Applications to Be Made via ALO 153
Patients and their relatives who apply through ALO 153 will be able to benefit from the Social Taxi service by making an appointment one day in advance.
‘They Will Be as Close to Us as a Phone Call’
Providing information about the project, İsmail Değirmenci, Head of the Department of Services for Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly, emphasised that they listened to all civil dynamics in the city while preparing the 2025–2029 strategic plan. In this context, he noted that they could not remain indifferent to the vehicle request from the Cancer Combat Association. Değirmenci continued: “Today we are experiencing the rightful happiness and pride of launching the Social Taxi. As of today, we are putting our Social Taxi into service and declare that it will operate 24/7. Cancer patients will be as close to us as a phone call through 153. And during the day we will make contact and ensure coordination between home and hospital.”
‘There Are More Than 20,000 Cancer Patients in Diyarbakır’
Şükrü Abay, Chair of the Diyarbakır Cancer Combat Association, stated that they had been active in the city for 10 years and that there are currently 1,500 cancer patients registered with their association. He stressed that all of these patients are poor and low-income. Abay added: “In Diyarbakır’s districts and villages there are more than 20,000 cancer patients. One of the most serious problems we face in our work is that poor cancer patients, while going to hospitals for chemotherapy, have to travel by public transport and risk contracting infections.”
‘Today Is a Historic Day for Our Cancer Patients’
Abay stated that over the past ten years they had lost 324 cancer patients due to infections contracted while using public transport. He explained that their applications to official institutions for a vehicle had not yielded results, but underlined that they had conveyed their request to the Metropolitan Municipality. Abay continued: “As of 11 February 2025, we see that our request has been met. From today, the taxi you see behind me will pick up cancer patients from their homes and addresses, take them to the Oncology Hospital for chemotherapy, and after treatment it will again collect them and return them to their homes. In this way, we will prevent these deaths. Today is a historic day for our cancer patients. On behalf of 20,000 cancer patients, we thank Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality.”
‘I Want This Opportunity to Continue’
Cancer patient Zeliha Özdağ Gözen, who was taken from her home to the Oncology Hospital by the Social Taxi, said: “I live in Sur, Diyarbakır. I have been a cancer patient for seven years. Because of this, I receive treatment every day. When I used to travel by bus for treatment, it was very difficult. Hopefully from now on we will be able to come more easily and receive our treatment. I want this opportunity to continue. I thank the Metropolitan Municipality, Co-Mayor Serra, Co-Mayor Doğan and all the staff.”
