Skye Air, AIIMS Rishikesh team up to deliver TB medicine

Skye Air Mobility and AIIMS Rishikesh joined forces on March 2, 2023, following the successful testing of a ground-breaking drone delivery operation. Skye Air's advanced VTOL Starliner was used to carry TB medication to Judda Village, covering an airborne distance of 14 kilometers in under 14 minutes.

This trial was conducted in the presence of Prof. Meenu Singh, Director AIIMS Rishikesh and Dr Jitender Gairola, Nodal Officer- Drone Based Health Services, AIIMS, Rishikesh

This achievement marks a significant milestone in the ‘TB MUKT BHARAT’ project initiated under the supervision of the Honourable Prime Minister of India, as it showcases the potential of drone technology to bring positive changes to people's lives, especially those living in remote areas. Skye Air's innovative drone delivery system, piloted using Skye UTM, was instrumental in monitoring the entire transit process from the ground, ensuring a safe and efficient delivery of the much-needed TB medicine.

In February, TechEagle also conducted its first delivery in Uttarakhand with its Vertiplane X3 drone, bringing 3 kilograms of TB medicines from AIIMS Rishikesh to New Tehri PHC, covering a distance of 36 kilometers nonstop and gaining 2 kilometers in 29 minutes.

“It is 6X quicker than ground transportation, as the route by road is 72+ kilometers and takes around 2.5-3 hours. The TB diagnostic samples from the patient's family members were returned by the drone,” the official release said.

The POC trials between Skye Air and AIIMS Rishikesh represents a remarkable example of how healthcare expertise and cutting-edge technology can work together to make a difference in people's lives. Skye Air's CEO, Ankit Kumar, expressed his gratitude and honour to work together with AIIMS Rishikesh, a world-class healthcare facility, and emphasized the significance of the POC in fulfilling the mission of the Prime Minister of India on TB Mukt Bharat.

This successful trial underscores Skye Air's commitment to innovation and excellence in the drone industry, as well as their dedication to making healthcare accessible to people living in remote areas. With the help of Skye Air's advanced drone technology and AIIMS Rishikesh's healthcare expertise, the POC trials aims to provide doorstep healthcare to the people of Uttarakhand, which can have a significant impact on their lives.

Dr Jitender Gairola, Nodal Officer- Drone Based Health Services, AIIMS, Rishikesh said “We may likely reach the World Health Organization’s objective to eliminate TB with the Incorporation of Innovative interventions like the use of drones for delivering TB regimens”

The joint efforts of Skye Air and AIIMS Rishikesh signify a significant step towards changing healthcare in remote villages of Uttarakhand, and they look forward to continuing their partnership with other healthcare organizations to bring positive changes to society. The success of this trial represents a promising future for the use of drone technology in healthcare delivery, and Skye Air and AIIMS Rishikesh are at the forefront of this innovative movement.