Government is launching an experimental project to use drones for medical logistics

The Government has decided to launch an experimental project to use drones for medical logistics, Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi announced.

The first participant will be the Heart Institute of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. The institution already has three specialized drones capable of covering distances of up to 700 km and landing at hospital sites.

A clear procedure has been established for coordinating flights with the military. The drones will have a special status and will be identifiable in the air. Rules have also been set for action during an air raid alert, including the option of landing at a backup site.

"The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Digital Transformation. Based on it, we plan to create a Ukrainian unmanned traffic management (UTM) system for civilian drones and define the rules for their safe use," the Head of Government said.

In wartime conditions and with a difficult road situation, transporting medical cargo by car can take critically important time needed to save lives. This is especially true for transplantation, where delivery speed is decisive. Drones will speed up the delivery of medicines, medical devices, blood samples for testing and donor organs between hospitals, including from remote areas.