India's remote and challenging regions now benefit from using drones to deliver essential goods, revolutionizing accessibility to these areas.
The South China Morning Post tells us in a detailed report that Tech Eagle Innovations are pushing this successful drone delivery program.
According to the same report, this drone company managed to transport an antivenom to India's remote Ziro Valley in just 28 minutes - saving the life of a fortunate local.
Drone Technology Helping South Asia's Remotest Areas
Building upon this success, Tech Eagle Innovations has established a drone base in the northeastern state of Meghalaya, connecting approximately 15 remote locations within a 50-kilometer radius.
This innovative initiative is the first of its kind in the region and aims to overcome geographical challenges by utilizing drone technology.
Recognizing the potential of drones to revolutionize accessibility to remote areas, the Indian government relaxed its strict drone policy in 2021, significantly reducing the number of permits required to operate drones from 25 to just five, albeit retaining requirements such as a certificate of airworthiness and licenses.
This policy change, coupled with the World Economic Forum's Medicines From the Sky project launched in collaboration with the government of Telangana state, has paved the way for trials of drone use in ten Indian states.
Vignesh Santhanam, India's lead for aerospace and drones at the World Economic Forum, notes that this has provided "unprecedented access to remote areas, enabling life-saving medical deliveries like never before."
India's motivation to embrace drone technology has been further fueled by the need to improve healthcare access in underserved areas.
SCMP reports that rugged terrains and weather hazards make approximately five percent of government-run primary healthcare centers inaccessible to medical suppliers and patients.
While most medical supplies traditionally rely on road transportation, the COVID-19 pandemic accentuated the necessity for broader reach to facilitate vaccination campaigns and distribute critical medicines and oxygen supplies.
Suresh Munuswamy, deputy director at the Public Health Foundation of India, highlights the challenges faced, stating that 20 to 40 percent of medicines fail to reach their intended destinations due to a lack of efficient supply chain systems.
The Important Role of Drones
Drones have emerged as a crucial tool in addressing these challenges. Their ability to navigate difficult terrains and deliver supplies swiftly has proven invaluable, particularly during emergencies like flash floods.
In a company blog post, we learn that TechEagle's AI and 5G-enabled drone delivery network has flown nearly 10,000 kilometers while transporting a 1000kg cargo of healthcare products (vaccines, blood, TB medications, anti-venom, and samples).
The network has reduced delivery time by 1000% and has favorably benefited over 10,000 lives.
Tech Eagle's Singh emphasizes the role of drones in improving the efficiency of healthcare delivery, with the current fleet capable of carrying payloads of up to 5 kilograms and flying at speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour (74.6 miles per hour).
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India's successful implementation of drone technology inspires neighboring countries like Nepal, which face similar geographical challenges.
Following the devastating earthquake in Nepal in 2015, SCMP also reports that aid agencies utilized drones for damage assessment, search and rescue operations, photography, and emergency supply transportation.
India's drone program is steadily gaining momentum and is expected to become a regular service within the next six months, significantly improving the healthcare supply chain in remote regions.
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