The delivery of medical products via drones is almost literally increasing. In May, the Belgian University Hospital in Turnhout announced a pilot project to transport medical samples and medication with drones.

Swiss Post started in July 2015 after a pilot with commercial delivery of laboratory samples, as a faster and more sustainable alternative to car delivery to sometimes remote locations in the Alpine region. The transport was carried out by drone builder Matternet. The drones were used to quickly transport lab equipment such as test samples between hospitals.

Major benefits include increased environmental friendliness and increased speed, especially in remote areas and city centers. However, Swiss Post has now temporarily stopped medical transport via drones. The reason is the crash of a delivery drone near children playing. In time, the mail deliverer wants to resume deliveries via drones.

In January, a Swiss Post drone also ran into problems, but then a safe landing could be carried out with the help of a parachute. Last May, the drone cut the lines of the parachute. According to ICT & health, the official knowledge platform for healthcare innovation, the device crashed close to playing toddlers of a daycare center.

Also read: Amsterdam is researching drone hubs, places where drones can take off and land