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New Delhi, India – In a significant stride towards bolstering India’s healthcare infrastructure, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in alignment with Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of a self-reliant and technologically empowered nation, has successfully conducted a feasibility study on the aerial transport of human corneas and amniotic membrane grafts using drones.
This groundbreaking initiative, a collaboration between ICMR, AIIMS New Delhi, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, aimed to assess the viability of deploying drones to transport sensitive ophthalmic biomaterials from peripheral collection centers to tertiary hospitals for transplantation. The study, conducted in Sonipat and Jhajjar, Haryana, showcased the potential of drones to revolutionize medical logistics.
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 journey, which typically takes 2-2.5 hours by road, was completed in approximately 40 minutes via drone. Crucially, the drone maintained optimal conditions for the specimen’s integrity, ensuring the cornea remained viable for a successful transplant surgery upon arrival.
This achievement underscores the potential of drones to address the critical issue of timely transportation of corneal tissues, where delays can significantly compromise tissue quality and reduce the success rate of transplants. Drones offer a swift, temperature-stable, and efficient alternative to traditional road networks, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas.
ICMR’s i-DRONE initiative has previously demonstrated the efficacy of drone deliveries for essential medical supplies in various regions, including North East India, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, and the NCR. These efforts have encompassed the delivery of COVID-19 and UIP vaccines, medications, surgical samples, blood bags, and TB sputum samples, highlighting the versatility and promise of drones in bridging the last-mile healthcare gap.
Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research (DHR) and Director General, ICMR, emphasized the initiative’s alignment with the Prime Minister’s vision, stating, “Drone-based healthcare logistics are the future, and India is taking the lead by applying this to areas where it matters most—saving lives and restoring sight.”
Shri Piyush Srivastava, Additional Secretary and Senior Economic Advisor, Ministry of Civil Aviation, highlighted the collaboration’s significance, noting, “This collaboration between health and aviation sectors is an inspiring example of tech-enabled social impact.”
Prof. (Dr.) M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi, remarked, “This drone-based transport model could be a transformative step toward ensuring equitable access to vision-restoring surgeries, especially in underserved areas.”
The study aims to document operational workflows, identify technical bottlenecks, and generate evidence to support the integration of drone logistics in routine medical practice. The findings will contribute to the development of protocols, policies, and best practices for aerial transport of time-sensitive and temperature-sensitive biological materials.
The event was attended by dignitaries including Dr. Anil Kumar, Director, National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation, MoHFW.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided and is intended for informational purposes only. The results of feasibility studies may not always translate directly into widespread implementation. Further research, regulatory approvals, and infrastructure development are necessary before drone-based corneal transport becomes a standard medical practice.
