Halton Healthcare begins pilot using drones

TORONTO – Drone Delivery Canada Corp. announced that its Care By Air project with Halton Healthcare Services and DSV Air & Sea Inc. Canada is commercially operational. This revenue generating pilot project will be operational for a six-month term.

The Care by Air project will enable defined-route deliveries from DSV to Halton Healthcare’s Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital using DDC’s Sparrow drone, its DroneSpot takeoff and landing zones and the Company’s proprietary FLYTE software.

The solution will be used to transport a wide variety of healthcare goods including medical isotopes for cancer care (supplied from McMaster University) by cargo drones for the benefit of fast and efficient delivery to Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, located in Oakville, Ontario.

This transport of vital medical supplies by drone is the first of its kind in Canada that will deliver healthcare supplies directly to a hospital for on-site patient diagnosis, treatment or care. The innovation of drone delivery will support the provision of time critical goods, enabling the next horizon in healthcare delivery.

All operations will be conducted in accordance with appropriate Canadian regulations. Flights will be remotely monitored by DDC from its Operations Control Centre located in Vaughan, Ontario.

“At Halton Healthcare, we are committed to advancing how we deliver care, which includes finding new and efficient ways to use technology. Being at the forefront of an innovative delivery system with the Care by Air drone delivery project is the ideal way to contribute to the advancement of healthcare, while continuing to evolve along with the care needs of our patients, families and communities,” said Hilary Rodrigues, senior vice president, corporate services, performance & chief financial officer, Halton Healthcare.

“This partnership with Halton Healthcare and DSV is highly innovative and ground-breaking. The pilot project is just the first step of the overall vision of connecting all hospitals within the Halton Healthcare umbrella. We are very proud to commence the operations and look forward to supporting other hospitals in Ontario as well as in Canada for that matter. Our proprietary drone logistics platform is a perfect fit for delivering high-value and high-risk cargo, as is typical in the healthcare market,” said Steve Magirias, CEO of Drone Delivery Canada.

“McMaster is a recognized leader in the discovery and commercialization of medical isotope technologies, some of the most time-critical medical supplies in the world. We are excited to be collaborating with the Care by Air team to create an innovative transportation solution that will improve access to medical diagnostics and therapies for patients not only in Canada, but around the world,” said Andrea Armstrong, adjunct professor and research scientist at McMaster University.

About Halton Healthcare
Halton Healthcare is an award-winning healthcare organization comprised of three community hospitals and numerous community-based services in the growing urban and rural communities of Halton Hills, Milton, and Oakville. Reflecting the dynamic communities we serve, we take pride in offering some of the finest technology and healthcare expertise available in southwestern Ontario. Our hospitals – Georgetown Hospital, Milton District Hospital and Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital – are very much a part of Halton’s rich history and have a long-standing tradition of providing quality care to many generations of area families. Together, we serve a population of more than 400,000 residents. Read more at https://www.haltonhealthcare.com.

About DSV
DSV – Global Transport and Logistics provides and manages supply chain solutions for thousands of companies every day, from the small family run business to the large global corporation. Our reach is global, yet our presence is local and close to our customers. 75,000 employees in more than 90 countries work passionately to deliver great customer experiences and high-quality services. Read more at www.dsv.com.

About McMaster University
Located in Hamilton, Ontario, McMaster University is one of Canada’s most research-intensive universities, and the nation’s preeminent nuclear research institution. McMaster has maintained active research programs in nuclear science and engineering for more than 65 years and is home to a unique suite of world-class nuclear research facilities that enable discoveries in medicine, clean energy, nuclear safety, advanced materials and environmental science. McMaster is a global leader in medical isotope research, development, and production, providing personalized cancer treatments for more than 70,000 patients every year. As a proven innovator in the medical isotope sector, we are committed to translating research results into deployable outcomes that can meet the complex challenges that exist in this space. Through collaboration with partners and stakeholders, we seek to develop innovative solutions that advance human and societal health, while helping to create a Brighter World. Read more at https://nuclear.mcmaster.ca.

About Drone Delivery Canada Corp.
Drone Delivery Canada Corp. is an ISO 9001 certified, award-winning drone technology company focused on the design, development, and implementation of its proprietary logistics software platform, using drones. The Company’s platform is intended to be used as a Software as a Service (SaaS) model for government and corporate organizations globally.