世界经济论坛WEF无人机在印度初级医疗保健领域中的应用英文版

The drone industry has been widely debated around the world with scores of discussions about the benefits of drones, whether they have reached technological maturity and policy controls. Even today, many potential adopters perceive drones
as an unproven business technology, although the success of medical drone deliveries in Rwanda
has piqued interest on a global scale, and these projects have been closely observed to learn more about the feasibility of this technology. It is now broadly accepted that drones present a tremendous opportunity to address supply-chain shortcomings in the healthcare sector.

The Medicine from the Sky (MFTS) programme in India’s Telangana state pioneered last-mile medical drone deliveries in the developing world and has been instrumental in demonstrating how the drone sector can flourish, given liberal policy reforms. The recently concluded MFTS trials provide evidence

of the advantages and potential of the technology, especially when combined with aviation policy changes. They provide a proof of concept not just of the technology but also the approach adopted, and serve as a model for implementation in the developing world.

As was made evident by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need for technology that addresses the fundamental limitations of healthcare distribution systems. Urban-grade healthcare infrastructure must be replicated to the greatest extent possible in rural areas, especially in the developing world – where variations in the quality of healthcare are greater and a larger proportion of the population live in rural areas – and drone technology will be a key enabler. However, the real benefits of drone technology will be achieved only when local populations become completely self-sufficient in terms of operating drones and serving their needs.

This report takes a detailed look at the Medicine from the Sky programme whereby, in the first scheme of its kind, vaccines were delivered beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) using drones, thus paving the way for numerous other programmes of a similar nature in the region.