Rising above: The future of medical drone delivery

Medical drone delivery can improve access to healthcare

— by Matt Devine, VP of International Business, Spright

Medical drone delivery refers to the use of drones to transport healthcare supplies such as medication, blood, vaccines, and other medical equipment between facilities or to remote or hard-to-reach areas. The use of drones for medical delivery has the potential to significantly improve the efficiency and speed of delivering medical supplies and services, particularly in areas that are difficult to assess due to geography, infrastructure, or other challenges.

Medical drone delivery benefits

There are several potential benefits to using drones for medical deliveries, including:

• Increased speed and efficiency: Drones can cover long distances quickly, allowing medical supplies to be delivered in a timely manner. This is particularly important in emergency situations where speed is critical.
• Improved access to healthcare: Drones can reach areas that may be difficult or impossible for ground vehicles to access, such as remote or rugged terrain. This can help to improve healthcare access for people living in these communities.
• Cost and energy savings: Implemented at scale, drones will be more cost-effective than traditional delivery methods, particularly in remote areas. Drones also use less energy resources than traditional vehicles, resulting in a reduced carbon footprint as well as cost-savings.

In order to optimize the potential benefits of medical drone delivery, there are also a number of challenges that need to be addressed, including:

• Regulatory barriers: In many countries, including the U.S., there are strict regulations governing the use of drones, particularly for commercial purposes. The UAS industry is working closely with regulators to revise current rules and enable the widespread use of drones for medical deliveries.
• Safety concerns: There are concerns about the safety of drones, particularly in terms of the risk for accidents or collisions. Many technologies exist today that significantly reduce the risk of adverse events, and these are being incorporated to enhance overall safety and confidence among regulators and the public-at-large.
• Technological challenges: Various technological challenges need to be addressed for drones to be effectively implemented for medical use cases, including how to ensure the safe and secure delivery of biological samples and products. Drone service providers are responsible for implementing solutions that monitor flight data to ensure package integrity and track chain-of-custody for regulatory compliance.

Drone reliability

Finally, the reliability of medical drone deliveries will also be an important consideration. These systems operate consistently in a variety of climates and changing weather conditions before they are widely adopted.

Medical drone delivery future

Overall, the future of medical drone delivery is promising, and the UAS community continues to work diligently to overcome certain challenges that must be addressed before widespread implementation becomes a reality. Fortunately, drone service operators such as Spright have the experience, resources, and technology to drive the necessary progress that will enable broader healthcare access through safe and efficient medical drone delivery.