India, March 7 -- Women pilot AIIMS Rishikesh's initiative to use drones to carry medical supplies to remote health centres

On February 1, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, became the first government hospital in the country to employ drones to carry medicines to remote community health centres. Steering the maiden drone flight was Mamta Raturi, an arts graduate from Rishikesh who, until recently, was engaged in community development initiatives like enrolling fellow women in government schemes. The drone ferried tuberculosis drugs to the community health centre in the hilly district of Chamba.

"In half an hour, the drone covered a distance that would have taken 3-4 hours by road," says Raturi. She stands a...