Taiwan deploys drones to deliver medicine to remote areas cut off by heavy rain

台灣調配無人機向受暴雨影響的偏遠地區運送藥品

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Health and Welfare on Sunday launched a drone delivery program to transport medicine to remote areas after heavy rain caused widespread road closures in central and southern Taiwan.

Lee Chien-chang (李建璋), director of the ministry’s Information Management Department, said the initiative aims to reduce risks for healthcare workers during natural disasters and ensure residents in isolated areas continue receiving necessary medications, per CNA.

The program follows an incident on Friday when torrential rains cut off road access to a village in Pingtung’s Wutai Township. After a remote medical consultation, the township chief personally delivered medicine by crossing a swollen river.

Lee said the drones are equipped with cooling compartments but are not suitable for medications requiring strict low-temperature storage. The drones can fly beyond visual line of sight and navigate using mobile networks. If a signal is lost, they switch to autonomous navigation systems to complete the delivery.

The ministry currently has up to five drones available for deployment, each capable of carrying up to three kilograms. Deliveries will prioritize locations with urgent medical needs.

Two delivery models are in place. In villages with stationed nurses, drones deliver medication directly to the nurse, who then distributes it to residents. In villages without on-site medical staff, drones drop the medication at designated locations, with healthcare providers offering instructions via video consultation.

The program is exempt from a provision in the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act requiring medication to be dispensed by licensed pharmacists, but only in cases of major disasters or emergencies.

Lee added that the ministry conducted multiple drone delivery tests last year in Hualien’s Xiulin and Fengbin townships in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Civil Aviation Administration, proving the program’s feasibility.