Drone Technology in Public Health: Adoption, Applications and Future Prospects – A Narrative Review

Abstract Background: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or drones offer rapid delivery of medicines, vaccines, testing kits and emergency supplies, transforming healthcare access in remote and underserved regions. They have demonstrated strong potential for integration into public health systems, with several countries successfully piloting drone-assisted programs. Materials and Methods: A literature search of PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar identified articles published between May 2020 and May 2025. Search terms included ‘drone technology’, ‘unmanned aerial vehicles’, ‘public health’, ‘healthcare delivery’, ‘COVID-19’, ‘medical logistics’ and ‘emergency response’, combined with Boolean operators. Eligible publications were peer-reviewed articles, reviews or case studies addressing drones in medical delivery, surveillance, health data collection or other public health functions. SANRA guidelines were followed for drafting of the manuscript. Results: Twenty-two publications were reviewed. Drones were widely deployed during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic for transporting medical supplies, supporting search and rescue in inaccessible regions, enhancing emergency response and enabling real-time data collection and monitoring. While cost-effective, implementation faces challenges, including training skilled operators, flight coordination, equipment maintenance and compliance with safety protocols. Conclusions: Regulatory restrictions and concerns over privacy, safety and misuse remain major barriers. Advances in drone design, supportive policy frameworks, and cross-sector collaboration will be essential to expand applications and establish drones as integral tools in global public health strategies.