Drone Response and Outreach in North East (E)
The Indian Council of Medical Research has launched the Drone Response and Outreach in North East or i-Drone. Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched this drone-based service from Manipur in a virtual ceremony on 4th October. For the first time, a Made in India drone was used in South Asia to transport COVID-19 vaccines. This drone-based vaccine delivery model could also be used to quickly deliver life-saving medicines to remote and difficult-to-reach areas in India. The service is also appropriate for collecting blood samples and other biologicals from inaccessible areas. At the launch event, the service delivered the vaccines from the Bishnupur district to the Loktak lake, Karang island in Manipur. Though the road distance between these locations is 26 kms yet the delivery was made within 15 minutes. The service showed how technology is making life easier and bringing social change.
