Drones May Deliver Medicines in ASR District

The department of Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare is considering the use of drones to deliver medicines to remote tribal areas, with a pilot project proposed in Alluri Sitharamaraju (ASR) district.

According to an official press note, the department is in discussions with an organisation that operates drone-based medical supply services in Arunachal Pradesh. The organisation has offered to provide its services free of cost for nine months under a Proof of Concept (PoC) model.

At present, medicines are transported by road from Paderu to government healthcare facilities across the district. However, officials noted that many Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), and Area Hospitals are located 60 to 80 kilometres away, often resulting in delays.

“Drone deliveries can significantly reduce transit time, particularly during emergencies or in areas with poor road connectivity,” a department official said.

Under the proposal, Paderu will be developed as a central hub for drone operations. Each drone can carry up to 2 kg of medicines or blood units and is equipped with temperature-controlled storage to safely transport vaccines.

“After delivering supplies, drones can return with patient samples, including blood, urine, or stool, which will minimise the need for patients to travel long distances for diagnostic tests,” the official added.

Pending regulatory approvals, the department is also exploring the possibility of transporting medicines from King George Hospital to Paderu using drones.

Officials pointed out that drones have previously been deployed for mosquito control, disinfectant spraying, and food delivery during flood situations.