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Leveraging drone technology in health systems strengthening: A cost-effectiveness analysis from Northeast India
Prakamya Gupta1, Ragini Bhatia1, Ranjan Kumar Choudhury1
1Division of Healthcare Technology, National Health Systems Resource Center, New Delhi, India.
Introduction:
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones have the potential to revolutionize healthcare logistics last-mile delivery. The use of drone technology in healthcare is relatively a new domain with a few sites undertaking pilot trials resulting in a lack of data for analysis, particularly in the healthcare sector. The present study aims to explore the longitudinal analysis and cost-effectiveness assessment of the implementation of drone technology in the public healthcare system.
Methods:
Retrospective data from December 2022 to January 2024 were obtained from the World Bank sponsored Meghalaya Drone Delivery Network under the Meghalaya Health Systems Strengthening Project. An economic evaluation of the drones versus vehicle transportation of medical logistics from hub to spoke was conducted. Carbon emissions from vehicles and drones for transportation were also compared.
Results:
A total of 214 flights were conducted, transporting 199·05 kg of payload to 11 spoke sites (primary healthcare centers) during 7 months period. The average cost by road transportation for one round trip was INR 2902 (US$ 34·80), whereas by drone, it was INR 3743 (US$ 44·87). The Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) for drone transportation is INR 12 (US$ 0·14) per Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY) averted as compared to vehicle transportation of medical logistics. The healthcare facility with drone services was able to avert 106 DALYs compared to 36 DALYs per month by the healthcare facility with a conventional mode of transportation. The drone services would require an additional INR 56 (US$ 0·67) to save 1 minute to transport medical logistics. The CO2 emission per payload delivered by drones was up to 99% less than the conventional mode of transportation.
Conclusion:
Drone technology in healthcare complements the existing supply chain routes and is a value addition for saving lives in unforeseen medical emergencies. Further trials are required for firming up use cases to understand the challenges associated.
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