Government of Telangana and World Economic Forum Sign Agreement on Drone Deliveries

(Judicial Quest News Service)

The Government of Telangana, World Economic Forum and Health Net Global have signed a collaboration
agreement for “Medicine from the Sky”, stewarded by leaders in medicine, technology and research.Subsequentto
the agreement, a study will be conducted to look at how delivery drones can be used to improve medical supply
chains, followed by a pilot implementation in Telangana.
Hyderabad, India, 17 July 2019–As India makes strides in regulating its low-altitude air space for unmanned
systems, the World Economic Forum Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Networktoday announced that it will
embark on an innovativedrone-deliveryproject called Medicine from the Sky. The project will run in partnership with
the State Government of Telangana and HealthNet Global andwill include a comprehensive study of drone-based
deliveries for blood, vaccines, medical samples and organs.
The project will help facilitate better decision-making in healthcare supply chains, focus on “last-mile” deliveries to
augment national healthcare programmes, and address issues that affect the medical distribution system.
“Telangana is one of the most progressive states in India that understands the opportunities of the Fourth Industrial
Revolution and how it can impact the people of the state. We hope that through this pilot with the World Economic
Forum, we can inform the Centre on the regulations that can help us positively use drones and unlock the potential
of India by harnessing technology,” saidJayesh Ranjan of Government of Telangana.
HealthNet Global Limited highlighted their commitment to the engagement of drones in the healthcare sector. “The
partnership between World Economic Forum Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network, Government of
Telangana and HealthNet Global Limited would embark on a historic effort to pilot the transport of medical supplies
using drones,” said K Hari Prasad of HealthNet Global Limited. “This study will provide an evidence-based approach
for implementation of drones in healthcare, enabling emergency-care services to the patients in the shortest time
frame possible, thus saving their lives.”
“This is a landmark development for unmanned aerial technology in the region,” saidMurat Sönmez, Managing
Director and Head of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network. “We are pleased to work with the State
Government of Telangana on this endeavour. Drones have immense applications in the healthcare sector. The roll-
out of Medicine from the Sky project in India could be transformational.”