Air4HEALTH
Last-Mile Air Delivery for Intelligent and Resilient Health Care
Air4Health addresses inequalities and difficulties in accessing healthcare services in the Greece–Italy cross-border area by improving “last mile” healthcare logistics through the use of drones (UAVs) for the rapid and safe delivery of medical products, especially in isolated or hard-to-reach areas (rural areas, mountainous areas, islands).
The project aims to develop technological, regulatory and operational solutions for the integration of drones into regional healthcare systems, with the goal of making healthcare services more accessible, resilient and equitable.
Responsible for the design and implementation of the U-space-ready operational framework for the safe integration of drones into healthcare services, the risk management of medical air mobility operations and the evaluation of live demonstrations with resulting policy recommendations. It also coordinates validation and verification activities in real-life scenarios, for both emergency and scheduled services, and develops the Air4Health digital platform. All activities will be carried out in close collaboration with ASL Lecce, which will provide operational and healthcare support during the testing and experimentation phases in Puglia.
The Interreg VI-A Greece-Italy 2021-2027 programme is a cross-border cooperation programme between Greece and Italy co-financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund – ERDF – and national funds from Greece and Italy).
– Detailed regulatory protocols to ensure safety, compliance and timely delivery of medical supplies
– Practical demonstrations of “last mile” delivery in real-world scenarios (pilot activities)
– Operational plans and risk assessment in accordance with EASA regulations and the European regulatory framework
– Development of the Air4HEALTH platform and a U-space ready framework
– Living Labs and capacity building activities for healthcare professionals and technicians
– Toolkits and operational guides for healthcare organisations and policy makers
– Strengthening cross-border cooperation in the healthcare sector and technological innovation
Partners:
– University of Patras (Lead Partner)
– Region of Western Greece
– Aerospace Technology Cluster (DTA)
– Local Health Authority (ASL) Lecce
– Region of the Ionian Islands
– 6th Health Region – Special Fund for Research and Development
TOTAL BUDGET: €1,684,494.70
DTA BUDGET: €341,478.00
