Odisha: AIIMS Bhubaneswar conducts successful trial of utilising drones in healthcare services

AIIMS Bhubaneswar, on January 23, conducted a successful experimental trial of utilising drones to provide superior healthcare services in Odisha.

The drone completed the successful journey of 120 km from AIIMS Bhubaneswar to Community Health Centre, Tangi, in just 1.10 hours, carrying the essential blood supplies weighing around 2kg, without encountering any operational issues in the presence of AIIMS Bhubaneswar Director Ashutosh Biswas.

Speaking to the media, AIIMS Bhubaneswar Director Ashutosh Biswas said, “It’s the commitment of the national institute to develop a model to integrate the technology into the healthcare system as a supplement to existing logistics methods and suggest ways for the long-term sustainability of drone-based delivery of medical supplies”.

“Induction of drone delivery can boost the healthcare services in rural, tribal, and semi-urban locations. These drones can carry multiple health products, including vaccines, essential drugs and diagnostic samples. AIIMS Bhubaneswar, as a leading tertiary healthcare provider has created this opportunity for the people of Odisha,” Ashutosh Biswas added.

He further noted that drone service can play a pivotal role during any natural disaster, overcoming geographical barriers and ensuring timely delivery of critical medical supplies like emergency medicine, blood samples, blood products, etc., to remote areas.

“The drone used for the trail services can carry up to 5 kgs and can travel up to 160 km. This is according to an initiative by the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) under MoHFW to enhance the accessibility of healthcare services for people residing in difficult-to-reach areas like remote geographical terrains or flooded areas,” Ashutosh Biswas said.

(with inputs from ANI)