by Michael Willoughby
A new service, co-run by the Maharashtra government in India, will deliver drugs to remote locations in the region using drones, Forbes India reports.
The magazine says the service will likely start next year.
California drone company, Zipline, which is partnering with the Indian government has previously supplied medicines to people in Rwanda and Ghana.
Justin Hamilton, Head of Global Communications and Public Affairs at Zipline, told Forbes India: “If a mother in childbirth begins to haemorrhage and needs blood, doctors can WhatsApp Zipline. The closest distribution centre will load the required blood type into a box with a parachute on a drone. The package is likely to reach in 30 minutes instead of 4-6 hours.”
The drones weigh 1.8kg and two distribution centres in Pune and Nandurbar will be the first to launch the project, the report claims.
“Millions across the world die each year because they can’t get the medicine they need when they want it,” Keller Rinaudo, CEO, Zipline, told the publication. “Instant drone delivery can help solve that problem. We hope to ensure that millions of people have on-demand, instant access to blood, vaccines and critical medicines they need to stay healthy and alive.”
For more information
http://www.forbesindia.com/article/special/drones-to-deliver-medicines-in-india-by-2020/55365/1
