A drone service is ideal for flying and delivering across scattered, but closely-bound islands and Swiss-based Rigitech is soon to transport medicines and healthcare products to the 26 inhabited atolls that make up the Maldives, reports a press release.
News first broke last September when initial trials by Rigitech began from the Gaffe Dhaalu island. The company’s craft are capable of carrying 6kg of goods and can travel up to 80 km on one battery charge. The tests have proven very successful.
Ahmed Adil, the former Maldives Health Minister of State, commented, “This will be a very useful service especially for the more remote islands. Patients can send samples without travelling and if you can’t travel because of poor weather, you can now get the service this way.”
Today’s Minister, Abdulla Khaleel, added, “Efforts are underway to transition to a more cost-effective and efficient system for immediate medicine delivery. The drone service will kickstart this initiative.”
The craft can pick up medicines, vaccines and healthcare products from the various atoll regional hospitals and deliver them to people who require them. If samples are required, they can be collected.
The Maldives government launched the trials after extensive research with input from relevant technical experts. The drones are to be managed by the State Trading Organisation (STO) and operated by local people who have been trained to safely fly them.
Last week, the Government stated that a full and extensive drone delivery service across the Maldives will begin “within the next six months.” This is a feather in the cap for Rigitech who beat various competition to land the deal. Flight Permission has been granted by the Civil Aviation authority.
Background
The Maldives is the smallest country in Asia comprising of 26 inhabited atolls covering just 115 sq. miles. With a population of 515,000 people, the capital is Malé. Independence from the UK occurred in 1965 and today it is part of the Commonwealth after rejoining in 2020 (withdrew in 1982).
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