Skye Air partners with Ayushman Bharat Scheme to implement drone-enabled healthcare logistics

Drone logistics provider Skye Air has partnered with the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) to facilitate drone-enabled healthcare logistics across five AIIMS facilities as part of a recent healthcare sector expansion announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The AIIMS facilities involved in this project are located in Jodhpur, Patna, Deoghar, Manipur, and Mangalagiri. This initiative aims to enhance the accessibility of healthcare services, especially in regions with limited infrastructure.

The government’s expanded Ayushman Bharat initiative, recently launched with projects valued at over Rs 12,850 crore, seeks to make healthcare more robust and accessible nationwide. Skye Air’s involvement in this expansion supports medical logistics across multiple AIIMS facilities, offering an innovative approach to address logistical challenges in healthcare delivery.

Ankit Kumar, CEO of Skye Air, commented on the integration of technology with public healthcare, stating, “With the expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, healthcare services are reaching new heights as drone technology becomes an integral part of healthcare delivery in India. Skye Air is spearheading drone-enabled healthcare logistics at five prominent AIIMS facilities, including Jodhpur, Patna, Deoghar, Manipur, and Mangalagiri, out of the 11 AIIMS drone projects launched recently. This initiative is a significant step forward in bridging healthcare gaps, especially in underserved areas. Highlighting these efforts, Skye Air demonstrates how drone technology ensures timely access to medical supplies, lifesaving medicines, and essential healthcare services for millions of Indians under the PMJAY scheme.”

The use of drones addresses one of the key challenges in healthcare logistics: accessibility. Many regions in India face difficulties receiving timely delivery of essential healthcare items due to geographic constraints and limited infrastructure. Drone technology provides a solution to these challenges by enabling rapid transport of medicines, medical equipment, and emergency supplies directly to healthcare facilities, reducing transit times and enhancing patient care quality.

Skye Air has deployed its StarLiner and Artemis drone models, which are equipped with temperature-controlled boxes to ensure efficient transport of medical supplies. These drones are designed to carry substantial loads, demonstrating their capability to meet the logistical demands of the healthcare sector.

The deployment of drones aligns with the PMJAY’s mission to improve healthcare equity by making essential medical resources accessible to underserved and rural communities. As India continues to scale up its healthcare infrastructure, the integration of drone technology offers a resilient and sustainable framework for healthcare logistics.

The Skye Air initiative at AIIMS facilities may serve as a model for broader applications of drones in healthcare settings. As the PMJAY and other healthcare programs evolve, the inclusion of drone technology has the potential to transform the distribution of medical supplies and resources, positioning India as a pioneer in technology-driven healthcare logistics.

This integration of drones into healthcare logistics under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana represents a milestone in Indian healthcare and reflects the government’s commitment to leveraging innovation to improve public welfare.