Cipla Limited on Tuesday announced the launch of drone-powered deliveries for its critical medicines (cardiac, respiratory, and other essential chronic therapies) for hospitals and pharmacies in Himachal Pradesh, India, in partnership with Skye Air Mobility.
According to a press statement, 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.
Cipla is the first among large Indian pharma companies to adopt drone-based deliveries to facilitate expedited supply to stockists in remote areas, it added.
In its inaugural phase, the company has successfully completed several drone deliveries in Himachal Pradesh covering approximately 50 kilometres distance in under 25 minutes. This has been vital amidst adverse and prevailing weather conditions that have impacted conventional transportation routes in the state.
“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. As we accelerate our digital agenda across all functions, implementing drone-powered distribution enhances our supply chain resilience, strengthens connects with channel partners, helps us stay future ready and maintain reliable, prompt delivery of our trusted high-quality drugs to stockists and patients in the region,” Cipla’s Global Supply Chain Head, Swapn Malpani said in a statement.
Cipla aims 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 in India, it claimed.