India’s central government has permitted the southern state of Telangana to use drones for experimental delivery of vaccines, an official release said on Friday.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted the conditional exemption for drone deployment to the government of Telangana for a period of one year.

“The drone usage permission has been granted for conducting experimental delivery of Covid-19 vaccines within visual line of sight range using drones. The permission exemption is valid for a period of one year or until further orders,” the Press Information Bureau release said.

The exemptions shall be valid only if all conditions and limitations as stated for the respective entities are strictly adhered to, it said.

Earlier this month, similar permission was granted to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the country’s apex body for bio-medical research, for conducting feasibility study of Covid-19 vaccine delivery using drones in collaboration with IIT Kanpur.

The permissions was given to o achieve the dual objectives of faster vaccine delivery and improved healthcare access by ensuring primary healthcare delivery at the citizen’s doorstep and limiting human exposure in Covid congested or Covid prone areas through aerial delivery, the release said.

The measure would also ensure access to health care to the last mile, especially in remote areas, and improve medical supply chain, especially with a third vaccine expected to be commissioned and millions of doses to be transported across India

(SAM)