Health Minister Mandaviya launches i-drone for vaccine delivery

New Delhi: Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched ICMR’s Drone Response and Outreach in North East (i-Drone) today as a part of ‘Antyodaya’, an initiative taken up by the government to make healthcare accessible to all. This delivery model will be used to provide life-saving medications and vaccines in otherwise inaccessible areas with tough terrains.

Noting the progress that inculcating drones in vaccine delivery would bring, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said, “This is for the first time that a "Make in India' drone has been used in South Asia to transport COVID vaccine over an aerial distance of 15 kms in 12-15 minutes from the Bishnupur district hospital to Loktak lake, Karang island in Manipur for administration at the PHC. The actual road distance between these locations is 26 k.m. Today, 10 beneficiaries will receive the first dose and 8 will receive the second dose at the PHC.”

The Health Minister further added that drones can deliver essentials to the last mile which can make it a game changer in addressing the challenges in health care delivery, particularly health supplies in difficult areas.

Vaccine delivery among tough and hard-to-reach terrains of India is still challenging which can be made easier through drone delivery. This i-Drone deploys Unmanned Aerial vehicles (UAV) / drones to remote areas and hard to reach terrains. Currently, the drone based delivery project has authorisation to operate in Manipur and Nagaland, as well as union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Island.

ICMR conducted initial studies in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur to test the capacity of drones to carry and transfer vaccines safely, on the basis of which it received authorisation from Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and other regulatory bodies to fly drones beyond the Visual Line Of Sight.

The launch event also witnessed the presence of Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Balram Bhargava, Director General, ICMR and other senior officers from the Ministry, State Governments and ICMR.