TechEagle Bags Medical Delivery Tender for AIIMS Guwahati

Further, TechEagle successfully completed a pilot run covering a 104 km aerial corridor—the longest flight in India among all medicine delivery initiatives.

TechEagle, a startup specializing in on-demand drone delivery service, has secured a tender with AIIMS Guwahati for medical delivery.

The deployment of state-of-the-art Vertiplane X3 drones boasting impressive long-range capabilities demonstrated operational expertise and technological prowess giving it an edge over competitors at the bid, the statement said.

After undergoing a rigorous selection process, TechEagle has devised a comprehensive deployment strategy and is actively collaborating with regional teams to establish operations across remote areas.

It aims to kickstart the ambitious project within the coming days.

Successful Pilot Run

As part of the bid, TechEagle successfully completed a pilot run covering a 104 km aerial corridor—a feat marking the longest flight in India among all medicine delivery initiatives.

In a similar initiative in December 2022, TechEagle launched a drone delivery network in Meghalaya, in partnership with the Government of Meghalaya and The World Bank.

Professor Ashok Puranik, executive director, AIIMS Guwahati, lauded TechEagle's victory, citing the company's demonstrations, technological advancements, and practical use cases as decisive factors in the selection process.

TechEagle's display of these competencies, combined with its real-time monitoring capabilities, positioned it as the winning contender, the statement read.

Emphasizing the project's significance, Professor Puranik remarked, "This initiative aims to revolutionize healthcare logistics, making it accessible at the grassroots level.’’

He further noted that drones will be utilized to transport medicines to Community Health Centers (CHCs) and Primary Health Centers (PHCs) near AIIMS Guwahati.

“Additionally, essential samples like blood, urine, and sputum will be efficiently transferred from these centers to AIIMS for necessary testing. This unique use case is poised to be a game-changer in the field of drone delivery," he added.

Drone Delivery in North East India

Considering India’s challenging geographical terrain and the need for efficient and timely delivery of medical supplies, drones have emerged as a promising solution.

Several startups across the country are collaborating with healthcare providers and government agencies to implement drone-based delivery services.

In January, Puducherry's Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) conducted trials utilizing drone technology for delivering medical services to patients in challenging geographical terrains. The training was conducted by Gurugram-based Drone Destination.

Likewise, AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, conducted experimental drone delivery trials to provide healthcare services in Odisha.

The trial involved a drone completing a round trip of 120 km from AIIMS Bhubaneswar to the Community Health Centre (CHC) Tangi and back in 1.10 hrs, carrying essential blood supplies weighing approximately 2kg.

In a similar development, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) ventured into drone technology for healthcare in the Lahaul and Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh in alignment with India's drone ecosystem development initiative.

Rising Trend of Drone Delivery in Healthcare Space

With Assam strategically positioned among the seven sisters, this accomplishment is perceived as the initial step in replacing ground logistics with an aerial network for medicine delivery.

Sharing thoughts, Vikram Singh Meena, founder & CEO, TechEagle, said, "This marks our second Drone Delivery Hub in North East India. We have been continuously creating an impact in Meghalaya for more than a year now. We are on track to launch more such hubs across the nation, making logistics accessible to every remote part of the country."

This development signifies a significant leap forward in the integration of drone technology in healthcare logistics, offering a promising solution to address challenges related to access and efficiency, particularly in remote areas.

Last month TechEagle announced a partnership with 10 AIIMS for fast medicine delivery via drones.

In a significant trial, it transported a medical payload of up to five kilograms to rural primary health centers at AIIMS Rajkot and AIIMS Mangalagiri.