https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Delivering Vaccines Through the Skies

Manipur, a tough terrain state, successfully tested drone delivery of Covid 19 vaccines. It became the first in Southeast Asia to use drone for delivery of vaccines from plain to island. Encouraged by this success, the state tested drone delivery of medicines, also.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Manipur seems to have a penchant for making headlines. From Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Mirabai Chanu to six successful UPSC candidates emerging from this tiny state, Manipur has been making news of late. And, recently, Manipur became the first in Southeast Asia to deliver Covid 19 vaccines from plain to island by using drones. Additional Chief Secretary (Health & Family Welfare), Manipur, Mr. V. Vumlunmang has been associated with this initiative right from the conceptual stage. In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, the 1992-batch IAS officer explained how Manipur became the first state to implement this innovative project.

FIRST IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Manipur launched a drone service to deliver 900 doses of Covid 19 vaccines from Bishnupur District Hospital to the Public Health Centre (PHC) in KarangIsland. This island is situated in the middle of Loktak Lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world. The entire exercise was carried out in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Additional Chief Secretary, (H&FW), V. Vumlunmang (left) with Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh

The drone approximately took 15 minutes to cover a distance of 25 kilometres, which otherwise takes about an hour by boat. Speaking about this path breaking launch, Mr. V. Vumlunmang said, “Covid pandemic has taught us the importance of being agile on actual health care delivery. So, when ICMR came forward with this innovative project, we gave all possible support.”

MEDICINE TOO DELIVERED BY DRONE

Flushed with the initial success of the Covid 19 vaccines delivery, the Manipur government decided to use drones for delivering medicines as well. A drone was used to distribute medicines in Churachandpur on October 9. The drone travelled from Churachandpur’s Health and Wellness Centre to Bishnupur’s District Hospital, and from there to the Public Health Centre in Phayeng. It carried 1,200 iron folic acid tablets for 40 women in antenatal care, enough to last them for a month.

This time, the drone covered about 29 km.The entire process was automated, and the medicine box was attached to the drone by the drone pilot. The flight parameters and the medicine box remained intact all throughout. The medicines were delivered safely to the PHC, where doctors, nurses and police officers verified and certified them.

V. Vumlunmang, Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Manipur (Credit: Social Media)

The state government flagged off the drone initiative very fast to mitigate the difficulties in delivering vaccines and medicines in rough terrains. Although ICMR helped with the training and oversight, all the activities were carried out by healthcare workers and drone operators of Manipur. Soon after the test flights, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh posted on his Facebook page that his “government is committed to leave no stone unturned to save the precious lives of the people.”

Mr. Vumlunmung, too, credits the proactiveness of the government for the success of the test deliveries.

“We are grateful to Honourable Chief Minister of Manipur who holds the Health portfolio and has been proactive in leading health interventions,” he said.

EXPERIMENT TO BENEFIT ENTIRE NORTHEAST

The senior IAS officer believes that once this initiative becomes fully operational, drone delivery will become an efficient system to deliver lifesaving drugs to the remote, far-flung areas. It will be beneficial not just for the state of Manipur but for the entire Northeast.

V. Vumlunmang

“Northeast India has the challenges of hilly terrain and inaccessible areas. So, this innovative drone delivery system holds huge potential for improving health care services,” he said.

This novel initiative of Manipur government comes at a time when states are grappling to come to terms with fast-changing dynamics in the health sector, in the aftermath of two dreadful Covid 19 waves in the country. Manipur has taken the lead in using drones for healthcare. Now, it remains to be seen how far the state is willing to go, to expand this initiative and bring more beneficiaries under the ‘vaccines from the sky’ project.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
CM Yogi Adityanath UP government
CM Yogi’s Vision: UP Signs MoU with NDDB to Revamp Dairy Sector, Boost Farmer Income
Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) Awards
Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) Clinches Twin Honours with Best CMA CFO & Cost Excellence Titles at CMA Awards 2024 for Financial Leadership
Jharia coalfield region
Rs 5,940-Cr Jharia Plan Cleared: Govt to Provide Livelihood Grant, Credit Support to Displaced Families - Sustainable Rehabilitation
NALCO Initiative
Powering Performance: NALCO Launches High-Strength IA90 Alloy Ingot, Targeting India’s Growing Auto Sector - Details Inside
Union Bank of India UBI
Union Bank Board Clears ₹6,000 Cr Capital Raise; ₹3,000 Cr via Equity, ₹3,000 Cr via Bonds
IRCTC
Leadership Update: Mukesh Saini Appointed as Chief Regional Officer at IRCTC Jaipur
THDC-resized
Energy Innovation Boost: THDCIL Signs Landmark Agreement with Gujarat for 184 MW from Tehri Pumped Storage Plant
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services (IAS)
Centre Flags IAS Officer’s OBC Certificate, Maharashtra Government Ordered to Probe
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Why Has the DGCA Fined Air India Rs 5 Crore Since Privatisation?
Former Diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar
Iran Is Weakest Now, Needs a Face-Saver
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-23 at 12.39
Retired Officers Lead 7-Day Mission to Revive Betwa River with 55 Check Dams | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Sanish Kumar Singh
“If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way,” Sanish Kumar Singh AIR 8, UPSC IFS 2024 
The real interview, he says, was much more humane. “The board was conversational. The chairman opened...
Raju Wagh
When the Battlefield Became a Study Room and a Dream Took Flight
Amid IED blasts and anti-Maoist operations in Bastar, CRPF Commando Raju Wagh taught village kids, studied...
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-18 at 10.31
"I Just Wanted to Breathe Again": The Man Who Fought Death and Made It to UPSC
Struck by COVID at the peak of his UPSC prep, Devanand Telgote spent months on ECMO, unsure he'd live,...
Social Media
Tigress Arrowhead
The End of an Era: A Queen Falls - Ranthambore’s Iconic Tigress Arrowhead (T-84) Passes Away at 14, Hours After Daughter’s Relocation
Ranthambore mourns the loss of one of its fiercest and most beloved tigers, Arrowhead, the granddaughter...
Screenshot 2025-06-13 194001
Wild Elephant Disrupts Riverside Picnic, Sparks Debate on Human Encroachment; IFS Parveen Kumar Shares the Video - Watch Here!
Mr. Kaswan used the viral video, which has garnered over 1.5 lakh views, to highlight the risks of human...
Tiger jump Sundarban
Stunning Viral Video Shows Royal Bengal Tiger Making Spectacular 30-Foot Leap Across River in Sunderbans - See It Here
Retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Susanta Nanda shared the clip online, which quickly went...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
CM Yogi Adityanath UP government
CM Yogi’s Vision: UP Signs MoU with NDDB to Revamp Dairy Sector, Boost Farmer Income
Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) Awards
Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) Clinches Twin Honours with Best CMA CFO & Cost Excellence Titles at CMA Awards 2024 for Financial Leadership
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Former Diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-23 at 12.39
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT