Mumbai: Drones will soon be used to transport hearts for transplant
BONN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 09: A quadcopter drone arrives with a small delivery at Deutsche Post headquarters on December 9, 2013 in Bonn, Germany. Deutsche Post is testing deliveries of medicine from a pharmacy in Bonn in an examination into the viability of using drones for deliveries of small packages over short distances. U.S. online retailer Amazon has also started its intention to explore the possibilities of using drones for deliveries. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
Mumbai’s traffic is no joke, which is why a lot of people rather go in trains than take their vehicles out. In medical emergencies such as heart transplant, where every minute is critical, it can be a nightmarish situation.
Recognising this problem, The Fortis hospital in Mulund is planning to partner with IIT-Bombay to employ drones to carry hearts for transplants in a bid to save critical time.
The hospital with the help of IIT is planning to use drones to transport hearts from one location to another, said Dr Anvay Mulay, Head of Cardiac transplant team in an addressing.
“This will reduce the time taken in the present traffic congestion in Mumbai. The weight of the heart is very less and the deadline for its transplant is very short and hence we have to compete with time,” he said.
Dr Mulay says that the project is still in planning stages and the hospital will soon acquire permission from airport authorities, the police and other agencies.
The doctor went on to claim that a record 23 heart transplants were carried out by Fortis Mulund during the last one year. Once the permission for drones is obtained it will considerable reduce transport time for hearts he said.
