The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved an experimental project aimed at reducing the time required to deliver medical cargo between healthcare facilities. This involves the transportation of donor organs, medicines, and other materials necessary for patient treatment.
Prime Minister's comment
Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi announced the government's decision. He explained that under conditions of full-scale war and complicated road traffic, transporting medical cargo by car often requires time that can be decisive in saving patients' lives.
This is particularly relevant for transplantation, as the speed of transporting donor organs is of special importance. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles will allow for faster delivery of necessary materials, even from remote settlements.
Between hospitals, the following items are planned to be transported by this method:
- medicines and medical devices;
- blood samples for laboratory testing;
- organs intended for transplantation.
Pilot launch at the Heart Institute
The first medical facility to participate in the trial of the new delivery system has been identified as the Ministry of Health Heart Institute of Ukraine. It already has three specialised unmanned aerial vehicles at its disposal. They are capable of covering up to 700 kilometres and landing directly on hospital premises.
Safety and protocols of action
Separate safety rules have been established for such shipments. In particular, each flight will need to be coordinated with the military. The unmanned aerial vehicles will have a special status, allowing them to be identified in the airspace.
The procedure of action in the event of an air raid alert has also been defined. If necessary, the drones will be able to land in pre-designated reserve locations.
Project prospects
In the long term, the results of the experiment will form the basis for creating a domestic system for managing civil unmanned aerial vehicle flights. The Cabinet of Ministers also intends to develop rules for their safe operation.
It was previously reported that the Ministry of Health is considering the possibility of establishing reserve logistics centres in Moldova for storing part of the medicine stocks. This decision is being discussed due to the threat of Russian strikes on Ukrainian pharmaceutical infrastructure.
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