Delivery of blood bags through drone successfully tested, to be implemented in emergency situations

NEW DELHI: ICMR has successfully tested the 'iDrone' project, a first in India, to deliver blood bags through drones in emergency situations in big cities with traffic jams and geographically challenged areas. Vaccines and other items were previously delivered in such situations.

The experiment involved transporting 10 units of blood from one place in Delhi to another using a drone. Another sample was also sent by ambulance to ensure that the blood, which had to be kept at a special temperature, was not damaged. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) chief Dr Rajeev Bahl said that the blood bags sent through drones were able to reach their destination intact. After the success of the experiment, it has been decided to implement it in emergency situations all over India.

Jaypee Institute of Information Technology (JIIT), Noida, Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) and Lady Hardinge Medical College participated in the experiment.

During Covid, ICMR first used iDrone for vaccine distribution in areas where health workers could not reach. Drones are delivering medical equipment and medicines to remote areas of Manipur and Nagaland.