Malaysia Explores Drone Delivery for Medicine in Rural Areas
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has recently conducted a pilot program for medicine drone delivery in Sabah, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation, and local drone technology providers. The initiative aims to test the feasibility of using drones to deliver medicines to rural and remote areas.
The first phase of the pilot program involves two community hubs of the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) under the Ministry of Communications, with plans to expand to 392 NADI hubs by 2027.
Why It Matters
The drone delivery service is designed to improve access to medications in hard-to-reach communities, such as islands and remote villages with limited road infrastructure. By leveraging technology like 5G and AI, the project supports the Malaysian government’s efforts to enhance healthcare services in rural areas.
The Larger Context
Ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare is a key focus of the government’s 12th Malaysia Plan 2021-2025, which includes the adoption of emerging technologies and expansion of virtual services. Private sector initiatives, such as the collaboration between MEASAT and Mudah Healthtech to deploy telehealth kiosks in rural areas, further contribute to improving healthcare access.
As part of the health system’s digital transformation, Malaysia is developing a national Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system set to be fully implemented next year. This aligns with efforts in other Asia-Pacific countries, like Australia and India, that have also explored drone-based delivery of medical supplies to remote communities.
