iDrone Initiative:
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has successfully conducted a trial run of delivery of blood bags by drones under its iDrone initiative.
- The trial run has been undertaken for the first time in the country by the ICMR; Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC); Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), Greater Noida; and the Jaypee Institute of Information Technology (JIIT), Noida.
- The inaugural trial flight carried 10 units of whole blood samples from the GIMS and LHMC in visual line of sight.
- The project ‘i-DRONE’(ICMR’s Drone Response and Outreach for North East) assessed the feasibility of using drone to deliver vaccines and medical supply.
- This was carried out in difficult geographical terrains including land, island, foothills and across the hills.
- The medical supplies delivered under i-Drone project included COVID-19 vaccines, vaccines used routine immunisation programs, antenatal care medicines, multi-vitamins, syringes and gloves.
- The drone delivery system focused on end-to-end ecosystem for drone-based logistic transportation within the states and was first successful example of delivering vaccines through drone from land to Island in South Asia.
