The All India Institute of Medical Sciences-Rishikesh on Thursday (16th February 2023) conducted a trial to test the feasibility of drones supplying medicines to primary health centres or smaller hospitals in cases of emergency.
* A Vertiplane X3 drone was used to deliver 2kg package of anti-tubercular drugs to a district hospital in Tehri Garhwal during the trial.
* The aerial distance of nearly 40 kilometres between the helipad at AIIMS and the hospital was covered in 30 minutes.
* The project will calculate the cost of effectiveness of delivering not only medicines but sputum samples to laboratories to support the country’s programme to eliminate TB by 2025.
* Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said, “A successful trial of drones delivering medicine was carried out today. Delivery with drones will be especially helpful in hilly areas where a distance of 40 kilometers would have taken 2 hours.”
* In future, the technology might also be used to transport organs between hospitals with time being of essence in such cases.
* Mandaviya added that a similar trial will also be carried out to transport supplies between AIIMS-Delhi and the National Cancer Centre associated with it located almost 50 km away in Jhajjar..
Source : Indian Express