ICMR’s innovative drone program aims to accelerate healthcare delivery in rural communities

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched a drone initiative with Kasturba Gandhi Medical College in Karnataka to speed up health outcomes in rural areas. The initiative will use drones to transport clinical samples from limited-resource hospitals to advanced diagnostic facilities, improving patient outcomes.

According to ICMR, the initiative will enhance healthcare delivery by transporting tissue samples mid-surgery from peripheral hospitals to tertiary settings for advanced pathological testing. This will help surgeons make quick and accurate medical decisions, especially during cancer surgeries.

ICMR’s partnership with TSAW Drones, a healthcare drone logistics start-up, aims to reduce infection risks for patients, improve convenience and compliance, and lessen the burden on tertiary care hospitals. The collaboration follows ICMR’s previous tie-up with TSAW Drones for a study in Telangana, Karnataka, and Himachal Pradesh on medical supplies transportation via drones.

The use of drones in healthcare delivery is a game-changer, as it enables patients in rural areas to receive timely and quality medical care. With samples being transported swiftly for testing, surgeons can receive diagnostic reports within minutes, minimizing the need for repetitive surgeries and reducing infection risks for patients.