What role can medical drones play in emergency care? This question is being investigated as part of the Interreg project BeNeDrone. The project focuses not only on the technical possibilities, but also on issues relating to safety, legislation and cross-border cooperation. After all, a drone flying from Belgium to the Netherlands must also comply with regulations.
One of the medical experts involved in the project is neurosurgeon Bachtiar Burhani from the ETZ. He is also the medical coordinator for neurosurgery at the Brabant Acute Care Network. Within BeNeDrone, he contributes his medical expertise and acts as a liaison between the various specialists involved in the research.
Every minute can make a difference
“Much of emergency care takes place during the ‘golden hour’,” says Burhani. “The faster and more effectively you can provide assistance in that first hour, the better it is for the patient. Whether it’s at the scene of an accident or between hospitals: we believe that drones can often reach the scene faster than, for example, an ambulance. And it doesn’t matter whether that’s across a national border or over a densely populated area.”
According to the researchers, drones can be faster than road transport in certain situations. For instance, they are not affected by traffic jams, roadworks or closed routes. This makes them potentially useful, for example, for transporting blood between hospitals or for the rapid delivery of medical supplies to the scene of an accident.
However, deploying a drone for medical care is more complicated than simply plotting a route and taking off. Current aviation and drone regulations still severely limit the possibilities. For instance, drones are not permitted to fly over densely populated areas without authorisation, and cross-border flights are subject to strict conditions.
“You can’t simply fly a drone across a border or over a populated area. Healthcare doesn’t stop at those borders, but the regulations currently do. That’s what we’re focusing on: what regulations are needed to make this possible? How do we harmonise them across several countries?”
Risk-free testing
To safely investigate various situations, the researchers are using a virtual environment. At Tilburg University, researchers and drone pilots are testing a range of scenarios using a virtual reality (VR) simulator.
In this digital environment, conditions can be simulated that are not yet permitted in the real world. For example, researchers are examining how drones behave over urban areas, along motorways and during flights that cross a national border.
Practical considerations also play a role. The researchers are taking into account factors such as weather conditions, accessibility and air traffic density. The results should clarify the conditions that medical drone flights must meet in order to be carried out safely and responsibly.
In addition, the regulations in different countries are being compared. The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany each have their own legislation. By identifying the differences and similarities, the researchers aim to contribute to an approach that fosters better cooperation between countries.
Drone vs police car
As well as research in the simulator, practical testing is also being carried out. One of the planned trials involves a comparison between a police car with flashing lights and a drone, both setting off for the same location at the same time.
The test aims to provide insight into which mode of transport can reach the scene most quickly under various conditions. It will also examine which factors affect speed en route, such as distance, traffic and potential obstacles.
Preparing for future applications
Although BeNeDrone remains unknown to many people, the researchers involved believe the project could play a significant role in future developments in healthcare. In addition to the medical benefits, BeNeDrone is also investigating the economic aspects of drone use. In doing so, researchers are examining practical situations in which speed and availability are key factors.
For example, when a patient urgently needs blood, it may be the case that several hospitals have the required supply. This raises questions such as: which hospital can deliver it fastest, which route is suitable, and is a drone permitted to carry out this cross-border flight?
Cooperation between Belgium and the Netherlands
BeNeDrone is an Interreg project coordinated by Maastricht University and funded by the European Union. The project also receives 10 per cent co-funding from the Province of Antwerp and VLAIO.
The consortium brings together research institutions, hospitals, government bodies, the armed forces and technology companies from Belgium and the Netherlands. Alongside Maastricht University, the Maastricht University Medical Centre, the Admiral De Ruyter Hospital, the ETZ, Tilburg University, the Catholic University of Leuven, the University Hospital of Antwerp, Campus Vesta, the Dutch Ministry of Defence, the Dutch Drone Centre Aviolanda Foundation, LuGus Studios, Red Monkey Company and Sakari Games.
