Drone based vaccine delivery model launched

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched the ICMR’s drone response and outreach in the northeast (iDrone).
This is for the first time that a ‘Make in India’ drone has been used in South Asia to transport COVID vaccine.
It covered an aerial distance of 15 km in 12-15 minutes from the Bishnupur district hospital to Loktak lake, Karang island in Manipur for administration at the primary health centre.
India is home to geographical diversities and drones can be used to deliver essentials to the last mile.
We can use drones in delivering important lifesaving medicines, collecting blood samples.
This technology can also be used in critical situations.
It may prove a game changer in addressing the challenges in health care delivery, particularly health supplies, in difficult areas.
Currently, the drone based delivery project has been granted permission for implementation in Manipur and Nagaland, as well as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The ICMR conducted an initial study in collaboration with the IIT Kanpur to test the capacity of the drones to carry and transfer vaccines safely.