TFP Bureau, Raipur; February 20, 2024: Leading the charge in innovation, Rajmata Smt. Devendra Kumari Singhdeo Government Medical College, Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, has been chosen for the Government of India’s groundbreaking “Use of Drone Technology in Health Service Delivery” project.
Under this initiative, blood samples will be collected from the Community Health Center in Udaipur and transported to the Government Medical College via drones for examination. Following analysis, the report will be sent back to the Community Health Center in Udaipur.
The project’s inaugural trial took place on Monday at the Government Medical College during its initial phase. The drone successfully transported blood samples and OT culture samples for testing from the Udaipur Community Health Center, situated 40 kilometers away from the Medical College in Ambikapur. The drone completed the journey in approximately 30 minutes, landing safely at the Jhirmiti Stadium Ground in Udaipur. Within just 15 minutes, the approximately 600-gram blood sample was loaded onto the drone before being dispatched back to the Medical College in Ambikapur.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal is actively working to enhance healthcare facilities across the state under the guidance of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai. Recent developments include the appointment of over 250 medical officers and specialist doctors throughout the state.
This initiative addresses the challenge faced by many remote community health centers in the Surguja and Bastar regions, where certain tests cannot be conducted locally and require referral to nearby centers. The introduction of drone technology holds significant promise for patients in such areas.
As part of the project, two members from self-help groups, termed ‘Drone Didis’, underwent training in drone operation in Delhi. One Didi is assigned to Udaipur, while the other is designated for Ambikapur for sample loading and unloading. The success of this pilot project could pave the way for its expansion across all districts of the state, providing immediate testing and sample reporting facilities to patients in remote areas of the Surguja district.
