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Drones are emerging as the game changers in healthcare logistics, offering rapid delivery of life-saving medical supplies to remote and hard-to-reach areas for many applications.
ICMR in collaboration with AIIMS New Delhi and Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, with the support from Ministry of Civil Aviation has conducted a feasibility study to assess the potential of using drones to transport sensitive ophthalmic biomaterials such as human corneas and amniotic membrane grafts from peripheral collection centres to tertiary hospitals for transplantation procedures, in Sonipat and Jhajjar, Haryana.
The drone successfully transported corneal tissue from Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital (Sonipat centre) to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), AIIMS Jhajjar, and subsequently to AIIMS New Delhi.
The distance was covered in around 40 minutes via drones which usually takes around 2-2.5 hours to cover via road. The drone maintained optimal conditions for specimen integrity and upon arrival, the cornea was evaluated, leading to a successful transplant surgery.
The timely transportation of corneal tissues is critical, as the viability of donated corneas is time-sensitive. Delays in transportation can compromise tissue quality and reduce the chances of successful transplantation.
Drone-based transport offers a swift, temperature-stable, and efficient alternative to traditional road networks, which ae often slow or unpredictable—especially in semi-urban or rural areas.
This can help bridge the gap between donor sites and recipients, ensuring that no viable tissue goes unused and that more patients regain sight in time.
Over the past few years, ICMR’s i-DRONE initiative has demonstrated the successful use of drones to deliver essential medical supplies in states such as North East India, Himachal Pradesh , Karnataka , Telangana and the NCR. These efforts highlight the growing capability and promise of drones in bridging the last-mile healthcare gap.
The findings from the study will help shape future protocols, policies, and best practices for aerial transport in healthcare.
