Page 26 - ITLN-September-October-2024-Issue-for-Website

Special Report
Drones in
healthcare logistics

Photo: SAMRIDH Healthcare Blended Finance Facility

Other companies are also making eliminating tuberculosis by 2025. pose significant obstacles. Kumar
significant strides in this field. TechEagle, in March 2024, also won of Skye Air Mobility explained these
TechEagle, another Indian drone a competitive bid for a tender with challenges: "The dynamic regulatory
delivery startup, has been pushing AIIMS Guwahati for a 104-kilometre framework in India, governed by the
the boundaries of what's possible drone delivery corridor, the longest DGCA, necessitates that we obtain
in emergency healthcare logistics. flight in India among all medicine multiple approvals and adhere to
In September 2023, TechEagle's delivery projects. strict guidelines.”
hybrid e-VTOL drone, Vertiplane X3, More recently, in May 2024, TSAW Gupta of Redwing Labs highlighted
completed its maiden flight from Sirohi Drones demonstrated the critical additional challenges, including
to Waloriya in Rajasthan, covering 35 role of drones in time-sensitive infrastructure limitations and the
km in less than 20 minutes to deliver medical scenarios. They carried out need for community acceptance. He
medicines to a tribal population. This an oncological tissue delivery under mentioned, "Many rural healthcare
journey was six times faster than controlled temperature and humidity facilities operate on constrained
ground transportation, especially conditions between two hospitals in budgets, making it difficult for them
significant given the lack of roads for Karnataka for laboratory testing. The to justify the investment in advanced
the last 8 km. The drone also returned drone flight covered a distance that drone-based logistics in the short
with sputum samples, showcasing the typically takes 60 minutes by road in term. Convincing healthcare providers
potential for bi-directional medical just 16 minutes. and local communities about the
logistics. In January 2024, TechEagle benefits and reliability of drone
completed one of India's longest Overcoming obstacles deliveries compared to traditional
drone delivery flights, transporting TB However, the integration of drone methods is also a big challenge."
medicines from AIIMS Rishikesh to technology into India's healthcare Addressing concerns about
remote Uttarakhand areas, supporting logistics has not been without its the safety and security of medical
the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Yojna, challenges. Regulatory hurdles supplies during drone transport
a government initiative aimed at and the diverse topography of India is also a key priority for these
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