Cipla medical drones take flight in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh

INDIA – Cipla Limited, in partnership with Skye Air Mobility, has introduced a drone services network exclusively designed to serve the healthcare needs of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

In a similar move, AIIMS Delhi begun incorporating artificial intelligence (AI), drones, and robotics into medical practices to ensure the timely and efficient delivery of medical supplies.

The primary objective behind this pioneering initiative is to overcome challenges like traffic congestion, which can hinder the prompt delivery of critical medical provisions.

Comparably, the Union Health Ministry is in the process of deploying an army of drones at Central government hospitals to transport medical supplies.

Cipla becomes the first-ever Indian pharma major to adopt drone-based deliveries to facilitate expedited supply to stockists in remote areas.

In a press statement, the company said: “The use of drones will support on-time delivery of Cipla’s medicines to chemists and clinics in remote areas while minimizing risks such as delays, temperature excursions affecting cold chain products, and roadside accidents.”

In the pilot phase, the pharmaceutical company has successfully completed several drone deliveries in Himachal Pradesh covering approximately 50 kilometres distance in under 25 minutes.

The main objective of the pilot drone delivery project in Himachal Pradesh is to provide efficient and reliable transportation of critical medicines.

This initiative will not only enhance healthcare accessibility but also ensure timely delivery to hospitals and pharmacies in Himachal Pradesh.

Cipla, which has a market cap of nearly US$12 billion, is known for making the anti-allergy drug Cetirizine and generic versions of respiratory drugs Advair and Albuterol.

In his address, Cipla’s Global Supply Chain Head, Swapn Malpani, confirmed: “Driven by our purpose of ‘Caring for Life’, we are leveraging technology to make healthcare more accessible and extend our circle of care to all our key stakeholders.”

He further said that implementing drone-powered medical supplies distribution is poised to enhance Cipla’s supply chain resilience and strengthen its connection with channel partners.

“As we accelerate our digital agenda across all functions, implementing drone-powered distribution helps us stay future-ready and maintain reliable, prompt delivery of our trusted high-quality drugs to stockists and patients in the region,” noted Swapn Malpani.

Additionally, Cipla plans to scale the service in the future through distribution to hospitals and expand market coverage to inaccessible and hilly terrains such as Uttarakhand and Northeast India.

The introduction of these drone services has been vital amidst adverse and prevailing weather conditions that have impacted conventional transportation routes in the state.

This news comes as Cipla’s founding family intends to sell their 33.4% holding, and in turn, a bid for that amount would also trigger an open offer for another 26% as per Indian regulations.

The company reported a 45% increase in net profit in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2024 to Rs 995.7 crores (nearly US$120 million), up from Rs 696.4 crores (up to US$84 million) in the same quarter last year.

Moreover, the pharma major reported robust growth across branded prescription, trade generics, and consumer health over the past year.

The sale of a stake in Cipla, however, is in jeopardy as potential buyers have balked at the US$13.1 billion valuation members of the founding family are targeting for the Indian firm in a deal.

For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook.