Look, up in the sky, is that a bird, or a plane? No, it’s a lifesaving healthcare drone! Interested in learning more about the use of drones in healthcare and how the Healthdrone earned the prestigious 3rd most influential project of 2022 in the Health category by PMI? (Top 10 Projects in Health | #MIP2022 (pmi.org)). Then read on…

Imagine living in a part of the world where it takes days to get to a doctor or medicine. According to the United Nations International Labor Organization, half the world’s population lives in rural areas. And, approximately “56% of people living in rural areas remain bereft of critical healthcare access, with the most acute instances being in Africa.” This means no diagnostics, preventive or curative medicines. A simple treatable infection could lead to death. However, help is on the way in the form of medical delivery drones.

Medical delivery drones make it possible to deliver, blood, medicines, vaccines, birth control and even snake bite serum to rural areas. They can reach places which vehicles cannot and can do this within minutes. This can mean the difference between life and death. Additionally, these drones can be used to deliver equipment such as defibrillators or diagnostic tests and return samples to laboratories and physicians.

Two recently successful examples of drones being used in healthcare occurred over 6,500 miles apart in two different parts of the word. The first of these examples, in 2022 earned the recognition of a globally most influential Health project by PMI. This project ran from 2019 to September 30, 2022. And, after 3 years of careful planning, the Danish Healthcare system is integrating drones to ensure faster and better treatment. A drone in the sky is a greatly welcomed site by the people who live on the Danish smaller islands. To read more: Danish health drones are taking off: Towards faster and better treatment - SDU.

The second example is about a partnership between a US startup company, Zipline, and the Rwandan government to launch the world’s first Drone Delivery Service. A partnership to deliver one of the most vital elements of modern medicine, blood: “Since December 2016, the Zipline has dispatched more than 4,000 units of blood products to 12 hospitals — red blood cells, platelets, and plasma that would have otherwise needed to travel by a treacherously tangled road network, losing precious hours in the race to save lives.” The success of Zipline in Rwanda inspired the company to look for expansion in Tanzania, Latin America as well as the US. To read more about Zipline: Zipline's Drones Are Delivering Blood to Hospitals in Rwanda (time.com). To view a video about Zipline: Zipline in Rwanda - YouTube.

While continents apart, what both examples have in common in the critical role that Project Managers played. For example, think about the breadth of project planning, scope of work and cross-discipline integration for execution. Also, think about determining and fulfilling requirements for drone system operation and integration, software development and user testing, security, quality management, safety and risks. The risks included both project risks as well as risks posed from drone use and meeting safety requirements including government aviation regulations, community context and engagement and much more. From conception of project to drone delivery of lifesaving healthcare, Project Managers were behind the scenes ensuring success!

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