ICMR successfully tests blood bag delivery under iDrone initiative

Tags: Science and Technology

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recently successfully tested the delivery of blood bags by drone under its iDrone initiative.

An overview of the news

• The trial run was conducted on May 10, 2023, a drone carrying a blood bag weighing 500 grams flew for a distance of 12 kilometres and delivered it safely at the designated location. 

• The drone then returned to the base station with another blood bag.

• Its objective is to address the challenges of blood transfusion services in rural and tribal areas, where access to blood banks and transportation facilities is limited.

About iDrone initiative 

• It was launched by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

• It aims to assess the feasibility of using drones to deliver vaccines and medical supplies.

• The i-Drone was first used by the ICMR during the COVID-19 pandemic for the delivery of vaccines to inaccessible areas.

• It is now being used to deliver blood and blood-related products that need to be kept at low temperatures.