Health Sector Transformation in Saudi Arabia: The Integration of Drones to Augment Disaster and Prehospital Care Delivery

• Published in: Disaster medicine and public health preparedness Vol. 17; p. e448
• Main Authors: Hertelendy, Attila J., Al-Wathinani, Ahmed M., Ali Salem Sultan, Mohammed, Goniewicz, Krzysztof
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 02.05.2023
• Subjects: Disaster medicine; Disasters; Emergency medical care; Evacuations & rescues; Health care policy; Letter to the Editor; Medical supplies; Search and rescue; Saudi Arabia
• ISSN: 1935-7893; 1938-744X
• DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2023.65

Drones can provide crucial support in search and rescue operations, delivery of medical supplies, and remote monitoring of disaster-affected areas by providing a bird’s eye view that is often difficult to obtain otherwise. Drones can transport essential medical supplies, such as vaccines, blood products, and medications, to areas that may be difficult to reach by conventional means. 3 This is especially valuable in Saudi Arabia, where remote and isolated communities may be cut off from the rest of the country during a disaster. 4 The use of drones in the delivery of medical supplies can ensure that life-saving treatments are available when and where they are needed most. 5 One example of this system in Saudi Arabia is Medidrone, which is designed to provide fast and efficient emergency services to patients in remote and hard-to-reach areas. The Web-based portal is used by the hospital staff to manage the system and track the status of the drone and the patients. 6 Drones can also be used for remote monitoring of disaster-affected areas.