Nurses and firefighters in Uzbekistan are being issued with bicycles to provide "more efficient" services, it's reported.
A health authority in the capital city Tashkent has established a service called Vellopatronaj, which it says will enable community nurses to provide "high-quality and fast" medical services in local villages.
The Uzbek National News Agency says the service involves 22 bicycles being given to community nurses to "increase the productivity of their work and make their work easier".
While there may be some cost efficiency benefits behind the move, the agency says the main motivation is "promoting healthy ways of living in the community".