In continuance with the national mission of expanding drone ecosystem in India, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Union Health Ministry successfully conducted a trial run of Transporting Onco-pathological Samples by drones under its i-Drone initiative, today. The trial run as part of a path breaking validation study has been undertaken for the first time in the country by the collaborative efforts of ICMR, Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal and Dr TMA PAI Rotary Hospital, Karkala. The inaugural trial flight carried the palpable mass sample of right iliac fossa from Dr TMA PAI Rotary Hospital to KMC in visual line of sight.
Drones play a crucial role in agriculture, defence, disaster relief and healthcare, especially during emergency situations by enabling rapid delivery of vaccines, medications, and vital supplies to remote and inaccessible areas. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) along with Kasturba Medical College, Manipal is currently conducting a feasibility study in Manipal, Karnataka. The study aims to evaluate the potential use of aerial transportation systems (drones), to transport items such as pathology samples from secondary healthcare facilities to tertiary-level hospitals.
Transporting samples for intraoperative decision-making in remote areas hasn't been extensively explored or documented within the Indian context due to limited data on feasibility, utility, and cost-effectiveness. The ongoing research in Manipal, Karnataka aims to address this gap by documenting the procedures for quick transportation of intraoperative samples using drones. This innovative approach could potentially connect secondary care centers with limited resources to tertiary care facilities with advanced diagnostics, facilitating immediate access during surgical procedures. Ultimately, this initiative could streamline complex surgeries, overcoming geographical barriers and improving access to specialized care in peripheral hospitals.
During its inaugural flight, the drone efficiently transported intraoperative surgical biospecimens surgically excised (laproscopic Appendicectomy, duration: 45 minutes) from the patient from Dr. TMA Pai Hospital,Karkala to Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education Manipalcovering a distance of approximately 37 kilometers in 15-20 minutes, which take around 50-60 minutes by road. Upon arrival, the sample was promptly analysed, and the report was electronically conveyed back to the peripheral hospital. Subsequently, the surgeon proceeded with the surgery based on the received report