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Saudi Arabia Uses Drones to Deliver Medical Supplies at Hajj
With temperatures reaching 45C in Mecca, health workers have turned to drones to restock 127 clinics treating heat-stressed pilgrims. The technology supplements traditional cooling methods during the annual hajj.
May 26, 11:05 AM·1m read2 sources
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Saudi health workers have increased their use of drones to deliver medications and supplies to medical clinics treating pilgrims suffering from extreme heat during the hajj. Temperatures in Mecca reached 45C this week. 5 million pilgrims.
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Preparations for medical needs began nine months ago.
Staff at a central operations center now load drones with medications and track each flight on a large data screen. Fahd Al-Bathi, chief operating officer at the National Unified Procurement Company, said the goal is to provide fast service to pilgrims.
Before drones were introduced, drivers could take more than an hour to reach clinics running low on supplies. Turki Al-Obaidi, a NUPCO operations officer, said teams work around the clock to reach patients quickly amid the large crowds.
Artificial intelligence monitors footage from thousands of cameras around Mecca. Giant fans, water trucks and mist systems continue to operate alongside the new technology. Jamil Abu Al-Aynayn, a Saudi health official, said heat exhaustion remains one of the main medical issues during the hajj and that readiness levels stay high.
