Asia’s first Drone and Delivery Hub and Network unveiled in Meghalaya, aims to ease access of healthcare

Meghalaya: To strengthen universal access to healthcare in Meghalaya, the State unveiled Asia’s first Drone and Delivery Hub and Network at the Jengjal Sub-Divisional Hospital on 5th December 2022.

In partnership with Meghalaya Health Systems Strengthening Project and drone start-up TechEagles, the first official drone flight took off from Jengjal Sub Divisional Hospital (Hub) and delivered medicines to Padeldoba PHC in less than 30 minutes, which would have otherwise taken 2.5 hours by road. 

According to TechEagles, “Vertiplane X3” has been deployed for the project as it is a hybrid drone with a fusion of fixed-wing and VTOL (Vertical Take Off Land).

The groundbreaking efforts intend to improve universal access to healthcare in the State by delivering vital supplies like drugs, diagnostic samples, vaccines, blood and blood components quickly and safely to different regions of the State using a dedicated Drone Delivery Network. 

Delighted with the successful establishment of Drone Delivery Hub, Mr. Ram Kumar S (IAS), Project Director, Meghalaya Health Systems Strengthening Project, said that the projects aim at providing access to life-saving drugs and other medical essentials to far-flung and hard-to-reach areas of the State.

“The drone station is meant for regular delivery of medicines, vaccines, blood samples, anti-venoms etc,” added Mr. Kumar. Mr. James P.K. Sangma, Honourable Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Meghalaya, termed the project ‘unparalleled’ and ‘pride’ for the State of Meghalaya.

“We are seeing something unparalleled in any place of the world. It is a matter of pride for the State of Meghalaya that we would be the first State to intuitionalise this initiative and have a system that can be expanded to other areas of the State as well,” Mr. Sangma said. 

Experts have informed that significant challenges in last-mile delivery call for an approach to revolutionise the conventional delivery system. Asia’s First Drone Delivery Network will help the system overcome the lack of visibility, high delivery costs, outdated technology and inaccessibility through roads and railway networks. 

Mr. Vikram Singh Meena, CEO & Founder, TechEagle claimed that transforming the logistics and healthcare supply chain is at the heart of TechEagle’s vision, and this launch of MDDN (Meghalaya Drone Delivery Network) is the first big step forward in the direction of achieving the goal of universal access to healthcare and logistics across the world. 

‘We are thankful to the Govt of Meghalaya & MHSSP for providing us with this opportunity to create a larger impact on a grass root level. Meghalaya Drone Delivery Network & Hub in Phase 1 is a combination of 1 central Hub and 25 supply chain nodes in a radius of 50 km, where The Drone Hub at Jengal Hospital shall act as the centre point“

“TechEagle’s Made in India Drones are capable of vertical take-off and landing from small areas, which enables both forward and reverse logistics of healthcare products in the network. MDDN would bring universal access to healthcare for 2.7 million people of Meghalaya,” Vikram Singh added.