The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in partnership with AIIMS New Delhi and Dr Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, has conducted a feasibility study on using drones to transport human corneas and amniotic membrane grafts. Supported by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the study took place in Sonipat and Jhajjar, Haryana, aiming to evaluate the efficiency of drones in delivering ophthalmic bio-materials from collection centres to specialised hospitals for transplantation.
As part of the study, a drone transported corneal tissue from Dr Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital in Sonipat to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at AIIMS Jhajjar and then to AIIMS New Delhi. While the road journey typically takes 2 to 2.5 hours, the drone completed the trip in approximately 40 minutes while maintaining optimal conditions for the tissue. Upon arrival, the cornea was assessed and successfully transplanted.
The use of drones in medical logistics is gaining attention, particularly for the timely delivery of critical healthcare supplies to remote and undeserved regions. Since corneal tissue is highly time-sensitive, delays in transport can affect its viability and reduce transplant success rates. Drones offer a reliable and efficient alternative to traditional road transport, which can be unpredictable in semi-urban and rural areas. By enhancing connectivity between donor sites and medical facilities, this initiative aims to increase the utilisation of donor tissues and ensure timely treatment for patients.
ICMR has previously demonstrated the effectiveness of drone-based medical deliveries through its i-DRONE initiative. Drones have been deployed for delivering vaccines, medications, and surgical supplies in North East India, transporting medical samples in high-altitude regions like Himachal Pradesh, carrying onco-surgical specimens in Karnataka, delivering tuberculosis (TB) sputum samples in Telangana, and transporting blood components in the National Capital Region (NCR). These projects highlight the growing role of drones in addressing healthcare accessibility challenges.
Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary of the Department of Health Research (DHR) and Director General of ICMR, emphasised the significance of this development. He noted that the i-DRONE platform was initially launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver vaccines to remote areas, and since then, it has expanded to include the transport of blood products and essential medicines in extreme conditions. He described this cornea transport study as another major milestone, improving patient access to vision-restoring procedures, alleviating the burden on tertiary hospitals, and aligning with India’s broader goal of self-reliance through innovation.
Piyush Srivastava, Additional Secretary and Senior Economic Advisor at the Ministry of Civil Aviation, praised the collaboration between the healthcare and aviation sectors as a model of technology-driven social impact. He highlighted how drone-based delivery of corneal tissues demonstrates India’s capability to develop homegrown solutions for real-world medical challenges. With drones offering scalable solutions for timely deliveries in difficult terrains, studies like this are crucial for strengthening the country’s healthcare infrastructure.
AIIMS New Delhi Director, Prof. (Dr) M Srinivas, also emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating that corneal blindness affects millions in India, and one of the biggest challenges is the timely availability of donor tissue. A drone-based transport system could be a game-changer in ensuring equitable access to sight-saving surgeries, particularly in underserved areas. The success of this study paves the way for broader adoption of drone logistics in various critical medical applications.
The study seeks to document operational procedures, identify technical challenges, and generate insights to support the routine integration of drones in medical logistics. Given the time-sensitive and temperature-sensitive nature of biological materials like human corneas, the findings will help shape future policies, protocols, and best practices for aerial transport in healthcare.
The event was attended by key officials, including Dr Anil Kumar, Director of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
