If the trials of Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH) in Hyderabad works out, very soon we will have Drone Pharmacies in Hyderabad and other cities of the country. IIPH is testing drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) to deliver drugs to a Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Moinabad, Ranga Reddy district, about 50 kilometres from Hyderabad.
If these trials are successful, IIPH is contemplating the possibility of using the drone to transport medicines to chronic patients who need a fixed amount of drugs every month. These drones can be used to transport drugs from the central warehouse to the PHC.
From PHC, the same drugs can be transported to the sub-centres, and from there, they can be delivered directly at the doorstep of the patient. IIPH is planning to do extensive testing of drones to deliver drugs at Moinabad till the end of the year and then evaluate the results.
