Drone-Aided Medical Tests Benefits 24,500 Patients in ASR District
Four drones carried 2,200 blood samples and covered 71,000 km across tribal areas.
Vijayawada: The drone-based medical test kits transportation system benefited 24,500 patients in terms of carrying and testing 2,200 blood samples, including 596 for sickle cell, in the conduct of over 9,000 tests in remote tribal areas in Alluri Sitarama Raju district.
Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav stated this here on Sunday after holding a review meeting with health officials. He said four drones were pressed into service from January in the ASR district and noted that they covered 71,000km by making 1,800 trips.
The drone network was connected with eight hospitals, including Paderu government hospital, Ludhugedda, Tajangi, Sunkarametta, Bhimavaram, Anantagiri PHC, Munchingiputtu CHC, Chinthapalli and Araku Area hospital, the minister said in a statement.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had launched the drone facility from Gannela PHC to RK Nagar village to transport medical reports, vaccines and medicines during his recent visit on August 29.
Health commissioner Chakradhar Babu said that the drones were being used for transport of samples for medical tests, emergency medicines, vaccines and other medical equipment to the required places. This, he said, is helping patients to not go to far off places for getting medical tests done.
The health minister also said training was provided to 25 local tribal youth on drones to facilitate local partnership in such services.