In many parts of Norway, people live far from hospitals, and transporting blood samples, blood products and other time-critical hospital materials can take several hours by car. Bad weather, road closures, or reduced staffing at night and on weekends make this transport even more vulnerable, and can delay important test results and treatment.
The project was launched because several hospital trusts in rural areas have experienced these challenges first-hand, and because new drone technology now makes it possible to test faster and more flexible transport solutions. The goal is to find out whether drones can deliver blood samples and similar materials in under an hour, as a supplement to today's transport, and whether this can improve patient care and create a more robust healthcare service in areas with long distances.
This is especially relevant now, as many local hospitals and emergency clinics in rural areas struggle to maintain a full range of services, and because new technology must be carefully tested and assessed before it can be used in healthcare.
SINTEF contributes research and evaluation throughout the project. We map current work processes and needs among staff in four selected "corridors" between local hospitals and emergency clinics, through surveys and interviews. We also develop a framework for measuring benefits and costs, and evaluate the actual drone pilot trials once these take place in 2027 and 2028. The drone technology and flight operations themselves are run by project partner Aviant. SINTEF's role is to ensure that the solution actually meets real needs in the healthcare service, and to document its effects before any wider rollout.
