Hyderabad/Chandigarh, May 27, 2022 :
On average, the drones used in the exercise flew at a height of 300 feet (90m) carrying an average weight of 2.3 kg, which included payload boxes, supplies and coolants at an average temperature of 5°C. Drones can not only be an enabler for last mile delivery but also for the middle mile – medical transit between 2 hubs or even on a well-established campus. However, to support drone-assisted medical aid delivery in the healthcare system, regulations, technology advancements and awareness must go hand-in-hand. Also, procuring drone services for medical deliveries requires knowledge-based insights into local scenarios which best provided by drone original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and service providers. Thus, the expansion of drones in healthcare is a multistakeholder subject and during its implementation, nobody should be left behind.
Apollo Hospitals has been a forerunner when it comes to the use of drone technology with advanced capabilities including AI in responding to disaster and emergencies. Apollo Hospitals had already demonstrated the use of drones as part of its emergency medical services in 2018. For testing, an accident situation was simulated, and a drone had flown to the site and seamlessly integrated with the disaster response protocols. Audio-video communication capability enabled the drone top help in cardiopulmonary resuscitation to first responders. In the “medicine from the Sky” project, a government area hospital was chosen as the take-off site and various PHCs and sub-centers as the landing sites. Of the 8 activated health facilities in the areas (6 PHCs and 2 SCs), the area hospital identified as the take-off site for trials was not equipped with a cold-chain facility. This was also enabled by Apollo Hospitals.
surrounding the same to save lives across the country.
we were privileged to be the clinical partner in the initiative and share our healthcare experiences. We look forward to continuing working with WEF (World Economic Forum), the government of Telangana and other states across the country in this project which I am sure would be the inception of a new age in enhancing the healthcare supply chain” she added.
integrated into the healthcare ecosystem. After Telangana, several other states have replicated the medical delivery use case”, he added highlighting how the Medicine from the Sky program sparked a delivery revolution in the region.
Vikram Thaploo, CEO of Apollo Hospital’s HealthNet Global said “Drones can make the delivery of essential medicines, vaccines and other essential supplies especially to remote areas, faster and more accessible. Transportation barriers happen to be the leading cause behind lack of healthcare access.
Drones can successfully overcome the connectivity issues and positively impact the lives of millions living in remote and inaccessible areas. Areas that were previously cut-off by road and difficult to reach by large airplanes and helicopters can now be easily reached, thereby extending India’s transportation network in strengthening the country’s healthcare scenario. Just like telehealth solves the problem of unavailability of doctors at remote locations, drone delivery resolves the issues of rapid sample collection, medical supplies delivery, diagnosis and much more.”