AIIMS Bhubaneswar conducts successful trial of drones in healthcare services

Bhubaneswar: AIIMS Bhubaneswar on January 23 successfully conducted an experimental trial employing drones to enhance quality of healthcare services in Odisha. The drone completed a 120 km journey from AIIMS Bhubaneswar to CHC Tangi in just 1.10 hours, transporting essential blood supplies weighing around 2 kg without encountering any operational issues.

Dr. Ashutosh Biswas, the Executive Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, oversaw the trial and emphasized the institute’s commitment to developing a model that integrates drone technology into the healthcare system as a supplementary solution to existing logistics methods. The aim is to suggest ways for the long-term sustainability of drone-based delivery of medical supplies.

The introduction of drone delivery has the potential to elevate healthcare services in rural, tribal, and semi-urban areas. These drones can transport various health products, including vaccines, essential drugs, and diagnostic samples. Dr. Biswas highlighted that AIIMS Bhubaneswar, as a leading tertiary healthcare provider, is creating this opportunity for the people of Odisha.

Drone services can play a crucial role during natural disasters, overcoming geographical barriers and ensuring the timely delivery of critical medical supplies to remote areas, such as emergency medicine, blood samples, and blood products.

The drone used in the trial has the capacity to carry up to 5 kg and travel up to 160 km. This initiative aligns with the PMSSY under MoHFW, aiming to enhance the accessibility of healthcare services for people residing in challenging areas, such as remote geographical terrains or flooded regions.

During the trial, Dr. Sonu H Subba, Dr. Priyamadhaba Behera, Dr. Abhishek Mishra, Dr. Satyaprakash, Dr. Anshuman Sahu, and DDA(I/c) Rasmiranjan Sethy were also present.