Logistic drone demonstration at Koh Chang Hospital

‘Skyller’ supports drone delivery of medicines and medical supplies for Department of Medical Services, piloting tests in Koh Chang, to enhance medical services in remote and hard-to-reach areas

Bangkok, 26 July 2024 — Skyller Solutions Co Ltd, or Skyller, an expert in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or drone services within the AI and Robotics Ventures (ARV) group, in collaboration with the Department of Medical Services under the Ministry of Public Health, led by Dr Thanawat Wongphan, Chief Executive Director of Trat Provincial Health Office; Dr Panuwat Soponlerdpong, Director of Koh Chang Hospital, and Dr Methaporn Limvorapunt, Director of Laem Ngop Hospital, have jointly tested the use of logistics drone to support medical missions in delivering medicines and medical supplies to remote and hard-to-reach areas, aiming to increase access to comprehensive medical services.

Mr Sinthu Satawiriya, Co-Founder of Skyller Solutions Co Ltd and Head of Ventures at ARV stated, “Currently, accessing medicines and medical supplies in remote areas of Thailand remains highly challenging due to the extended time required compared to conventional areas, despite road or water transportation systems. Additionally, the transportation of medicines and medical supplies is more complex than that of general goods, as some medicines and supplies are sensitive to temperature, humidity, light, and vibrations and must be stored correctly according to standards. Moreover, there are still not enough providers of medicine and medical supply transport services to meet the needs of medical agencies and the public.

Given these limitations, this collaboration was initiated to develop and test the use of logistics drone that can fly quickly, accurately, and safely to transport medical supplies. The goal is to create a prototype model for other areas across the country, which we believe will greatly benefit the Thai medical field by reducing the gap in medical access for mountainous and over 1,400 island areas. Additionally, it can extend to other challenging situations, such as emergency flooding or natural disasters.

“The development and testing of our logistics drone has been successful in this pilot project for transporting medicines and medical supplies, demonstrating that UAVs can efficiently transport medical supplies under medical conditions as planned by Skyller and the Trat Provincial Public Health Office. This collaboration with the Department of Medical Services aligns with Skyller's vision of driving drone technology and industry, not only to meet business needs but also to improve the quality of life in society. Furthermore, as a representative of Skyller, it is a great honour to have the opportunity to collaborate on this pilot project and contribute to its successful testing and development. We hope this collaboration marks a good beginning for future cooperation.”

Dr Thanawat Wongphan, Chief Executive Director of Trat Provincial Health Office, stated, “The Department of Medical Services and the Trat Provincial Public Health Office are committed to developing new technologies and innovations to enhance Thailand’s medical services, making them more efficient and accessible. This collaboration with Skyller utilises UAV technology in the medical service system, which has the potential to address the shortage of medicines and medical supplies in remote areas and ensure that people in all areas can access quality medical services conveniently, quickly, and efficiently.”

Dr Panuwat Soponlerdpong, Director of Koh Chang Hospital, added, “The initiation of this drone trial is a significant step in developing technology to enhance Thailand's medical services, reflecting the commitment of both the public and private sectors to create a Thai society where everyone can access quality medical services equally.”