A hospital in Gurgaon is working on a project to build drones which can be used to deliver organs for transplants in the National Capital Region (NCR), The Times of India reported.
According to the hospital, this concept will not only save time but also help save lives. When launched, it would be the first-of-its-kind service in the country, sources in the hospital told TOI.
Doctors feel that with increased awareness about organ donation and availability of advanced technology, transplants in the future could increase and creating green corridors might become difficult. Also, most organs cannot be kept in storage beyond 24 hours, states the report.
The TOI report further adds, "According to experts, it is easier to transport organs using drones than helicopters as it would not require approval from DGCA to fly drones below 500ft. Doctors at the hospital are closely involved in designing and flying the drones. According to sources, doctors are working on models that can hold weight of 10kg."
Besides working on the technical aspects, the hospital is also looking at security aspects of using such a method, including getting required security clearances.
"We are in the process of working out modalities and regulations, etc, such as, what kind of drones can be used, how much weight it will need to carry," Avnish Seth of Fortis Organ Retrieval and Transplant told TOI.
While an air ambulance can cost anywhere between Rs 2-10 lakh per trip, drones are likely to cost around Rs 1-2 lakh per trip.