India is slated to get its first medical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) corridor by the end of this year. The prestigious medical institute, AIIMS, is expected to secure a drone corridor with its extension campus at Haryana’s Jhajjar this year.
The plan has been approved by the ministry and Airports Authority of India. A senior aviation ministry official, “AIIMS is awaiting (some) other approvals. Once that happens test flights will be carried out. If all goes well, regular (drone) flights may start in about six months.”
One of the top officials of the AIIMS also confirmed the approval of the drone corridor. “We are waiting for approval from Delhi Police. Once we have it, the drone facility will be launched by the health minister,” he said.
the official further informed that at the initial stage the drone will be used to transport the blood samples, blood products, and medicines.
“There are some tests that aren’t available at the Jhajjar campus currently. We can use the drones to transport samples to the Delhi campus for testing. Similarly, blood products can be transported in case of an urgent requirement,” he explained.
