Drones to deliver medicines in Telengana

HYDERABAD: The World Economic Forum Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network on July 18, announced that commencementof an innovative drone-delivery project called ‘Medicine from the Sky’.

The Government of Telangana is in partnership with the Health Net Global to do a comprehensive study of drone-based deliveries for blood, vaccines, medical samples and organs.The project aims at facilitating better decision-making in healthcare supply chains, focus on last-mile deliveries to augment national healthcare programmes, and address issues that affect the medical distribution system.

Jayesh Ranjan, IT secretary, said, “Telangana is one of the most progressive states in India that understands the opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and how it can impact the people of the State. We hope that through this pilot with the World Economic Forum (WEF), we can inform the Centre on the regulations that can help us positively use drones and unlock the potential of India by harnessing technology.”

K Hari Prasad,an official of Health Net Global Limited, said, “The partnership between World Economic Forum Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network, government of Telangana and Health Net Global Limited would embark on a historic effort to pilot the transport of medical supplies using drones.”

The project will open doors for implementation of drones in healthcare sector, which can enable emergency-care services to the patient in shortest span of time possible, thus saving lives.

Murat Sönmez, Managing Director and Head of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network, said, “This is a landmark development for unmanned aerial technology in the region. Drones have immense applications in the healthcare sector. This step could be transformational.”