Rajmata Smt Devendra Kumari Singhdeo Government Medical College in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, has embarked on a groundbreaking endeavour in partnership with the Government of India. The institution has been selected to spearhead the revolutionary ‘Use of Drone Technology in Health Service Delivery’ project.

Under this visionary initiative, blood samples will be collected from the Community Health Centre in Udaipur and seamlessly transported to Rajmata Smt Devendra Kumari Singhdeo Government Medical College for examination, utilizing state-of-the-art drone technology. Upon analysis, the medical reports will be promptly dispatched back to the Udaipur Community Health Centre.

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The project’s inaugural trial, conducted on Monday, witnessed the successful transportation of blood samples and OT culture samples for testing from the Udaipur Community Health Centre, located 40 kilometers away, to the Medical College in Ambikapur.

Remarkably, the drone covered the distance in a mere 30 minutes, landing safely at the Jhirmiti Stadium Ground in Udaipur. The efficient loading of the 600-gram blood sample onto the drone within just 15 minutes highlights the seamless execution of the trial.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal continues to spearhead efforts aimed at bolstering healthcare infrastructure across Chhattisgarh. Noteworthy developments include the appointment of over 250 medical officers and specialist doctors, signaling a commitment to advancing healthcare services statewide.

This transformative initiative addresses a pressing challenge encountered by numerous remote community health centres in Surguja and Bastar regions, where certain tests necessitate referral to nearby facilities. By leveraging drone technology, the project promises to significantly enhance medical accessibility for patients residing in these underserved areas.

As part of the project’s holistic approach, two members from self-help groups, termed ‘Drone Didis,’ underwent rigorous training in drone operation in Delhi. One Didi is stationed in Udaipur, while the other is based in Ambikapur, overseeing sample loading and unloading operations.

The success of this pilot project holds the potential to catalyze its expansion across all districts of the state, offering immediate testing and sample reporting facilities to patients in remote areas of Surguja district.