Catalonia makes progress in integrating drones in healthcare with a view to emergency response

The Ministry of Health hosted the conference ‘Integration of drones in healthcare in Catalonia: experiences in healthcare logistics and new cases of clinical application and healthcare emergencies’ today. The event presented the results of the latest pilot tests carried out in the Catalan Health System and the new projects planned in this area, emphasising the potential of this technology when responding to serious emergency situations.

The day was part of the working group for the incorporation of drones into the field of health in Catalonia, and was organised by the TIC Salut Social Foundation, with the collaboration of the Centre for Telecommunication and Information Technologies (CTTI) as project facilitators, and the Primary Care of the Catalan Institute of Health (ICS) in the Metropolitana Nord, the Metropolitana Nord Clinical Laboratory (located at the Germans Trias Hospital), the Blood and Tissue Bank, the Olot County Hospital Foundation of La Garrotxa and the Medical Emergency System (SEM), as participants and promoters of the pilots.

At the inauguration of the event, the director of the TIC Salut Social Foundation, Joan Guanyabens, pointed out that “drones facilitate healthcare, especially as a support and service tool in emergency situations, streamlining logistical services between different healthcare agents, and allowing new models of clinical care for people”. Guanyabens also pointed out that currently “We are working on several projects that indicate their viability and integration within health structures.”

Pilot test results

On the one hand, the report has been presented with the results of the proof of concept for transporting biological samples with drones in La Garrotxa. The pilot was carried out for five days, between the second and third week of June 2024. 37 blood samples were transported from the CAP Vall d’en Bas to the laboratory of the Olot and County Hospital of the Garrotxa Foundation. The test made it possible to reduce drone transport time by nearly 75% on average compared to transport by van, to reduce the rate of haemolysis (deterioration of red blood cells) of the samples by around 50%, and reduce CO₂ emissions by 98% with respect to emissions generated by ordinary transport. The drone model used in this test was a VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) electric drone, which is capable of taking off and landing in small spaces of only 5 metres in diameter.

In addition, the proof of concept for transporting biological samples by drone has also been presented in the Northern Metropolitan Health Region. The pilot began on 18 November 2024 between the primary health care centre (CAP) Sant Fost – Martorelles and the Metropolitana Nord clinical laboratory, located at the Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital. The last flight was carried out on 29 November. Although the results have yet to be analysed, the test enabled the transport of more than 300 blood and urine samples from nearly a hundred patients, with an average flight time of 6 minutes, compared to the nearly 30 minutes of conventional land transport. In this case, the drone model used was the same as that used in the Garrotxa test.

New projects

With the results and learnings obtained in La Garrotxa and the Northern Metropolitan Area, the Health System will begin a new, more complex project at the beginning of 2025, to define and establish the implementation of an operational service for the transport of products from the Blood and Tissue Bank with drones in Lleida region. The trial will have an overall duration of 6 months and will focus on defining and establishing the service, in all aspects, technical, logistical and operational, in order to have a systemic and viable process, reducing transport time, improving logistical efficiency, completing healthcare coverage and ensuring real-time traceability.

In the field of healthcare, the Olot and Garrotxa Hospital Foundation has presented the clinical study on the use of drones that it will soon carry out in patients with cerebral vascular damage. This pilot project will explore whether the use of drones can improve neurorehabilitation through more efficient and personalised therapies, reducing travel and enhancing cognitive and behavioural recovery.

Drones for emergencies

On the same day, the Medical Emergency System highlighted the potential of drones as transformative tools in the response to natural disasters.

Through the use of drones, it is possible perform remote aerial triage in areas that are difficult to access, identify the status of affected people, and monitor their progress in real time. This technology also allows data and images to be transmitted live to the crisis room, thus optimising resources and guaranteeing better visibility of the scene.

Drones have also been shown to be very useful in healthcare logistics, as they facilitate the transport of medicines and medical equipment to areas that are difficult to access. In this respect, the use of drones also allows us to identify the health needs of the affected people.

Broadcast of the seminar