Drones in the Archipelago: Tensions in Technological Progress for Medical Transportation

The transport of healthcare materials is essential for a safe and well-functioning healthcare system. In remote areas, where transport can be particularly challenging, healthcare regions are investigating new approaches to maintain efficiency and safety whilst reducing costs. In this paper, we report on a field study with a design ethnographic sensibility that followed a pilot project of a healthcare region over the course of three months, testing a drone-based blood sample delivery system in the Gothenburg archipelago, Sweden. By adopting a holistic yet critical approach, we conducted observations of test flights, contextual interviews with nurses, project managers, transport coordinators, and a drone pilot, alongside a citizen survey. We combined this empirical data with other reports produced by the healthcare region. Through a reflexive thematic analysis, we show both opportunities and challenges—expressed as tensions—with the drone delivery system, questioning the techno-positive approach to the issue.