Hospital Authority tests drone delivery of medical supplies

The flight takes about 20 minutes compared with existing transport.

The Hospital Authority, in collaboration with a logistics company, is piloting the use of drones to deliver medical supplies from Cyberport to St John Hospital in Cheung Chau.

The 12-kilometre flight takes about 20 minutes, compared with 45 to 65 minutes using existing transportation, according to the company’s Hong Kong and Macau Region Chief Technology Officer Kenny Lau.

The initiative is expected to support urgent supplies such as antivenoms, said Maxime Mark, St John Hospital Accident & Emergency Department Associate Consultant.

“Patients can stay in St John Hospital instead of being sent out to the urban area for treatment,” Mark said.

The trial project is in line with the government’s low-altitude economy initiative.