Drones to the Rescue : A literary study of Unmanned Aerial Systems within healthcare

Abstract: This thesis addresses the subject of drone deliveries within healthcare to examine whether unmanned aerial vehicles can contribute with increased accessibility to medical supply. An overview of the advancements made in the field since its introduction in health care, is first presented in the report. Through a literary review on the subject, dimensions have been identified as significant for determining the possibly increased accessibility to medical equipment that the unmanned aerial system provides, and thus the utility of the system. This thesis further evaluates the system out of an accessibility perspective, which aims to meet theoretical criteria established by previous researchers in the accessibility field, and thereby adopt a holistic approach to the subject. It is concluded that the dimensions are dependent on characteristics of the geographical location and should be considered when discussing drones in medicine. However, knowledge and evaluations are lacking from regions that have implemented such a system, which contributes to uncertainties for how drone deliveries work in practice.