[천안다문화] The two sides of drones

Air Corridor for Lifesaving Rescue, Belgian Medical Drones, Vectors of a Medical Revolution

While drones are used as tools of attack and destruction on battlefields, in peacetime this same technology is proving to be an essential medical innovation. Often associated with death in conflicts, elsewhere they are becoming invaluable instruments for saving lives.

The fact that the "medical helicopter" at Dankook University Hospital has saved 1,411 lives in the last decade testifies to the importance of air routes in emergency medicine. It has traveled 230,000 kilometers - five times around the world - across South Chungcheong Province, the islands of the Yellow Sea, and mountainous regions. The rapid transport of critically ill patients, with a survival rate of 77.7%, demonstrates the crucial role of airborne medical systems in saving human lives. This medical helicopter has thus become "Skyway of Life Rescue", allowing direct access to patients in hard-to-reach areas.

Meanwhile, in Europe, Belgium is leading the way in a new medical innovation. As early as 2022, the country established itself as a European benchmark for medical drone demonstrations. These drones transported blood, human tissue, and various medical samples between hospitals, demonstrating their safety and efficiency, even in complex urban environments. This demonstration, a first in Europe, is significant because it sets a new standard for medical logistics systems.

Belgium, often called the "heart of Europe," is home to major international organizations such as the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). A symbol of multiculturalism and international cooperation, the country is also at the forefront of medical innovation. While medical helicopters provide an emergency means of transporting patients, Belgian medical drones represent a vital new link between hospitals. Both approaches demonstrate how airspace can be used to save lives, each in its own way.

Furthermore, this journalist, as a patient navigator at the cancer center of Dankook University Hospital, has a profound understanding of the importance of the healthcare system through her work with immigrants, Korean patients, and multicultural families. This experience allows her to appreciate how medical innovation and international cooperation can transform and protect lives.
Solange Baijot, Honorary Correspondent (Belgium)