Drones in healthcare: Adapting drones into versatile healthcare workers

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• June 6, 2022

Insight summary

Drone technology is proving essential in healthcare logistics by aiding in the quick delivery of medical supplies and facilitating remote consultations through telemedicine technologies. The sector is witnessing a surge in partnerships and the development of regulatory frameworks to ensure safe and efficient drone operations globally. As the industry evolves, it faces challenges, including the need for skilled professionals and addressing environmental concerns.

Drones in healthcare context

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the flexible and versatile nature of drone technology, which has been used in various ways, including surveillance activities and disinfecting public spaces. These unmanned aerial vehicles have facilitated quicker responses in emergency situations, and have been instrumental in ensuring the timely delivery of essential medical supplies, playing a pivotal role in safeguarding public health during unprecedented times. Furthermore, they have been employed in monitoring compliance with health guidelines.

Even before the pandemic struck, drones were a vital tool in delivering medical supplies to remote areas. Companies, such as Zipline, partnered with local medical organizations and international philanthropy institutes to transport blood samples, medicines, and vaccines to isolated locations, including villages in the Amazon forest and rural areas across the African continent. In the US, establishments like WakeMed Health and Hospitals used drone technology to transport samples and supplies between surgery centers and laboratories. 

Looking forward, research firm Global Market Insights projects a substantial growth in the medical drone market, estimating its value to reach USD $399 million by 2025, a significant rise from USD $88 million in 2018. Concurrently, the global drone software market may potentially attain a value of USD $21.9 billion by 2026. It is essential for stakeholders to pay close attention to this development, as it hints at a future where drone technology could be a standard feature in healthcare logistics.

Disruptive impact

Companies like Zipline deployed drone technology to facilitate the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in remote areas, such as certain regions in Ghana. In the US, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted permission for the first out-of-sight deliveries in 2020, allowing Zipline to deliver personal protective equipment to a hospital in North Carolina. Furthermore, drone companies like AERAS and Perpetual Motion have received the green light from the FAA to undertake aerial disinfection projects, using hospital-grade disinfectants to sanitize large public areas and hospital premises.

The scope of drone applications in healthcare is expanding with active research and development in various spheres. The University of Cincinnati, for instance, has pioneered the creation of a telehealth drone equipped with features that enable two-way communication through cameras and display screens, potentially redefining remote healthcare access. However, the growing reliance on drones requires a parallel growth in skill sets; health workers may need to acquire knowledge in drone operation, system maintenance, and troubleshooting to keep pace with technological advancements. 

On the regulatory front, governments are faced with the task of creating a framework that governs the use of healthcare drones. Federal, state, and city-level authorities are considering the initiation of regulations to maintain controlled environments for drone operations, delineating specific purposes for which drones can be used in healthcare settings. As the regulatory landscape evolves globally, governments lacking a structured approach to drone governance may find themselves looking to adopt proven regulatory models from other nations. 

Implications of healthcare industry drone use

Wider implications of drones being designed and used in the healthcare industry may include:

• A surge in partnerships between healthcare suppliers and drug manufacturers to streamline the delivery of specific drugs to allocated facilities.
• Drone-facilitated virtual consultations or patient monitoring, with drones being dispatched to homes equipped with telemedicine technologies.
• Drones with enhanced medical storage facilities, enabling the transportation of emergency medicines over extended distances, particularly to remote areas.
• A shift in labor market demands, with an increased need for professionals skilled in drone operation, system maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Governments globally adopting and adapting drone regulations from nations with established frameworks, leading to a more harmonized regulatory landscape that facilitates international cooperation.
• Concerns regarding energy consumption and noise pollution, requiring the development of drones that operate on renewable energy sources and have noise reduction technologies.
• The use of drones in disaster response and management, enabling quicker and more efficient responses to emergencies by delivering necessary supplies and conducting search and rescue operations.

Questions to consider

• What are the possible benefits of having drones as medical workers? In which areas should their use be prohibited?
• How best do you think drones could be regulated/monitored to ensure cargo safety?