Deliver drugs by drone."Flying distribution" will be realized | New Switch by Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun

The flight robot (drone) may change the way of pharmaceuticals.The government has a policy to digitize the flow of medical care from consultation to patient receiving medicine.The idea of a drone is expected to be a drone, which is expected to be a "last one mile" that delivers drugs from the final base of logistics to patients who have received online medical treatment.At the feet, a system design for transporting drugs by drone is being developed, and demonstration experiments are progressing nationwide.Can it be a silver bullet in which depopulated areas such as mountainous areas and remote islands have?I followed the current of drone logistics.(Nagoya / Nagahara Naodai)

November 12, 2020.A drone with pharmaceuticals flew from Kawawa Port in Mihama -cho, Aichi Prefecture.Shinoshima (Minamichita -cho, Aichi Prefecture) is about 14 kilometers southeast of the ocean.It is a so -called remote island.He flew at an altitude of about 50 meters at a speed of about 50 kilometers / h, and traveled for about 20 minutes to the role of the islanders waiting for medicine.

This demonstration, which was participated in Aichi Prefecture, Nagoya Railway, and Japanese Dispensing, aims to verify the business and safety of pharmaceutical delivery for patients who have received online medical treatment and medication guidance.The prefectural representative says, "We will clarify the opportunity to use drones and lead to social implementation."

In March, Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture, ANA Holdings (HD) and Takeda Pharmaceutical Industry jointly demonstrated in March.Pharmaceuticals were transported to a remote island 16 km away from Fukuejima Port in the city in about 10 minutes.In addition to delivery after online medical treatment and medication guidance, examples of urgent delivery from pharmaceutical wholesale to medical institutions were verified.

Drones are also expected to be transported in the city center.The Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to launch a demonstration between St. Luke's International Hospital (Chuo -ku, Tokyo) and a medical wholesaler Medico (same).KDDI and Japan Airlines (JAL) will participate in the demonstration to explore the potential of drone logistics in the city center.Although it has not yet started flight, implementation as a new means of pharmaceutical logistics is waiting.

According to the Impress Research Institute, a research company, the domestic drone logistics market, including pharmaceuticals, is expected to be 79.7 billion yen, about 53 times in FY2015.The day when flying drug distribution is realized, as a tailwind for digitalization medical care.

Regulatory reforms are steadily progressing for digitalization of medical care.For the first time, the government has stated that the Cabinet Reform Implementation Plan, which was decided in June, was stated that "will work on the realization of online medical care at a glance."

In the summer of 2010, we plan to introduce an electronic prescription system, and consider creating a mechanism that allows you to receive medicine without going to a pharmacy.As a result, it is possible to achieve consistent online medical services from online medical treatment to medication guidance and dispensed drug home delivery.Drone delivery is likely to be used in situations such as drugs, drug wholesalers, and transportation to hospitals prescribed for home consultation or re -examination.

On the other hand, the Japan Medical Society has suggested that "there are few diseases that can be diagnosed only by interviews and videos over the screen."The fact is that there are many barriers to exceed on the realization of online medical care.Digital system design and verification are indispensable for digitalization of safe and secure medical care.

Regarding the development of drone logistics rules, the Air Law revision in June incorporated a visual flight (level 4) system in a manned zone.Level 4 is expected to be lifted in the winter of 2010, and when realized, the range of industrial utilization will expand further.

The same is true for pharmaceutical delivery.In June, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced the "Guidelines on Drone Delivery by Drone".He demanded the maintenance of quality, such as temperature control, implementation of pharmacists taking medications, and clarifying the responsibilities under the Aviation Law.It is said that the guidelines have been established in response to the proceeding experiments in various places.

We asked Shinji Suzuki, Professor of the University of Tokyo, president of the Japan UAS Industrial Promotion Council (JUIDA), who supports drones and support market creation, about the advantage of drone logistics and future prospects.

-What is the background that the motion of industrial use is increasing?"How to continue the" Last One Mile "process (from the final base of logistics) to your home in a shortage of labor. One solution becomes a drone.The needs to be delivered are increasing year by year, and various services are being considered, including drones. "

-What are the benefits of pharmaceutical delivery by drones?"In mountainous and remote islands, it is difficult to get off the mountains and cross the sea to get medicine. If the medicine is delivered on a daily basis, the burden on the residents will be reduced. In addition, disasters.Active when transporting to an isolated village sometimes "

-What is the status of use of drones overseas?"Switzerland is focusing on its use as a country. There are regional issues such as mountains and lakes, and air authorities are eager to introduce them. In 2015, a Swiss post office conducted an emergency delivery test for drugs.In addition, ZIPLINE (California) in the United States has commercialized a service to deliver blood stremmed blood products in Africa. "

-What are the issues for using industries?"There is no law on the premise that drones exist in society. Laws will proceed by using the real use of industries on a daily basis, such as using industries on a daily basis."

* Interviews are conducted online

Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun August 23, 2021