Maharashtra govt plans to deliver emergency medicines through drones

Zipline drones will make on-demand and emergency deliveries of blood products, vaccines and life-saving medications

After African countries like Ghana and Rwanda, now the Maharashtra government is also planning to deliver emergency medicines through drones. The service, expected to be launched in early 2020, will be operated by California-based automated logistics firm Zipline.

Announcing the partnership with Zipline, the world's first and only national-scale drone delivery service, the state government said the initiative will be supported through a grant from Serum Institute of India (SII), a leading vaccine manufacturer.

An autonomous delivery drone-based logistics network will be established by Zipline. A total of 10 distribution centres are planned across Maharashtra in phases over the next