Abstract:

This paper explores the usage of drones in the Malaysian healthcare supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic and proposes strategies by identifying issues and challenges faced. A detailed literature review was conducted from a leading database to understand in detail the role of drones as a solution to the healthcare supply chain disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study found several challenges such as limited technical capability, strict government regulation, need for a 5G network, high cost, and limited drone capabilities. Therefore, this study proposed strategies to mitigate these challenges which include investment in tertiary education, government legislation improvement, expedite 5G network adoption, collaboration with NGOs to reduce cost burden, and provide drones with multi-functionality. The findings of this study have significant implications and contributions to the body of knowledge relevant to drone technology and the healthcare supply chain. Specifically, the findings uncover challenges faced by the healthcare supply chain industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Practically, the findings from this study may increase the understanding and awareness about the importance of drones and challenges among the key players (e.g. education, government, private sector, user, and manufacture). Thus, future studies may want to investigate the practicability of drones that can help to support its practices in the healthcare supply chain.