ICMR Collaborates with Drone Startup TSAW to Deliver Essential Medical Supplies in HP, Telangana & Karnataka

The ICMR's extensive six-month project aims to ensure regular deliveries supporting healthcare facilities across three key regions: Yaddari Bhuvanagiri district (Telangana), Manipal (Karnataka), and Lahaul (Himachal Pradesh).

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has partnered with Delhi-based TSAW Drones, a drone logistics startup, to deliver crucial medical supplies using drones.

The ICMR's extensive six-month project aims to ensure regular deliveries supporting healthcare facilities across three key regions: Yaddari Bhuvanagiri district (Telangana), Manipal (Karnataka), and Lahaul (Himachal Pradesh). 

The primary objective is to establish seamless connections between various pivotal points, including distribution centers and primary health centers, ensuring essential medical supplies, tuberculosis samples, tissue specimens, and diagnostic samples.

Commenting on this development, Kishan Tiwari, founder and CEO of TSAW Drones, said, "Navigating challenging terrains and reaching high altitudes to assist underserved communities presents a formidable challenge, but we are wholly equipped to handle it."

Amidst the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, multiple governmental bodies in India experimented with drone technology for potential logistical support. ICMR, notably, initiated its i-Drone program to explore the viability of employing drones to distribute COVID-19 vaccines and medicines in India's northeastern region.

Commenting on the initiative, Dr Sumit Aggarwal, scientist'“D and program officer at ICMR, said, "By employing advanced drone technology, we're not just creating new avenues; we're dismantling barriers to healthcare access in India's most remote areas."

In recent strides within the drone delivery domain, Drone Startup TechEagle has partnered with AIIMS Jodhpur to streamline the convenient delivery of critical healthcare essentials, including medicines, vaccines, and blood. This system enhances the efficient transportation of blood and sputum samples for diagnostic assessment, thereby augmenting the overall healthcare delivery. 

Additionally, Skye Air Mobility, a Gurugram-based drone-delivery startup, has expanded its healthcare services' drone delivery to Kolkata's New Town area, including the delivery of pathological test samples and life-saving medications. 

The full-scale operations are slated to commence within six months after an initial rollout within the next two to three months.