In a recent development, the Telangana government has chosen 16 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) as testing grounds for its groundbreaking project called ‘Medicine from the Sky’. This project is novel considering it involves dispatching medicine using multiple drones. The launch comes after the Civil Aviation Ministry approved the idea.
About the Project
The project steps forward with a conditional exemption granted to the Telangana Government by the Civil Aviation Ministry, which allows for experimental Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone flights to deliver vaccines. The project is planned to commence in three stages, starting with the pilot programme followed by establishing the route network for operation of drones. These drones will fly to deliver vaccine or medicine to selected community health centres and PHCs.
The Collaborators
Telangana government is not alone in this venture and is being supported by HealthNet Global and World Economic Forum. HealthNet Global is a private limited corporation that offers affordable health plans for families, individuals, Medicare, and businesses.
The Aim of the Project
The ultimate goal of this endeavour is to examine potential alternative logistics routes to facilitate safe, reliable, and precise pick up and delivery of crucial healthcare items. This includes medicines, Covid-19 vaccines, blood units, and other lifesaving equipment from the distribution centre to specified locations and back. Furthermore, the project aims to ensure healthcare equity in rural areas.
Significance of the Project
The success of this model holds great potential. It could enable deliveries from district medical stores and blood banks to PHCs, Community Healthcare Centres (CHCs), and back from PHCs/CHCs to central diagnostic laboratories. The project would significantly revolutionize the healthcare industry and potentially save many lives during emergencies, especially in geographically challenging locations.
Other Projects Involving the Use of Drones
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has also been given similar permission to study the feasibility of delivering Covid-19 vaccines using drones. They are collaborating with IIT-Kanpur on this project. Furthermore, the International Crops Research Institute (ICRISAT) is allowed to use drones for agricultural research activities.
About Drones
Laymen often refer to Unmanned Aircraft (UA) as drones. There are three subsets of UAs; these include Remotely Piloted Aircraft, Autonomous Aircraft, and Model Aircraft. These aircrafts are divided into five categories based on their weight.
BVLOS and Its Significance
Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) is a term used for operations of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and drones outside the normal visible range of the pilot. BVLOS flights require extra training, additional equipment, and certification. They also need specific permission from aviation authorities.
Advantages and Risks of BVLOS
BVLOS flights are cost-effective and efficient, covering more ground in a single mission and requiring less human intervention. However, they also carry safety concerns due to the fact that the pilot observes potential obstacles via a remote camera feed or, in some cases, there may be no human observation at all. Therefore, the risk of collision with other aircraft or damage to property and people is a concern, particularly when flights take place in non-segregated airspace.
Last Modified: February 13, 2024