Japan wants to distribute drugs drones in 2018

System initially would allow unmanned aircraft carrying prescription drugs, blood for transfusion and other emergency products


Japan intends to implement a drug distribution system through drones, to supply remote areas with few medical facilities. The operation should begin in 2018, said on Thursday (5) the business daily Nikkei.

The system initially would allow unmanned aircraft transportassem prescription drugs, blood for transfusion and other emergency products.

To realize the idea, the Japanese government should increase the frequency bands currently established and increase the power output of the wireless network stations.

It would also be necessary to adopt new legislation to regulate the routes of drones and define the products that they could carry.

Currently, Japanese law prohibits the drone flying over populated residential areas without government authorization, establishes minimum distances that aircraft must keep people and buildings, but does not regulate the flight paths.

Japan had no specific legislation on drones until September this year, when a man operated one of these devices with radioactive material to the roof of the residence of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Abe and some ministers are scheduled to meet today with representatives from companies such as Amazon and Toyota Motors, aiming to boost new distribution system drugs drones, added the Nikkei.

The e-commerce giant, Amazon, started in March last year to test the delivery of orders with the use of unmanned aircraft in Miami (United States). The Walmart requested, at the end of last month, authorized the US government to test drones for this purpose.