CVS residential drone delivery service

UPS and CVS Health Corporation announced that its UPS subsidiary UPS Flight Forward (UPSFF) will use drones to deliver prescription medicines from a CVS pharmacy to The Villages, Florida for the largest US retirement community, home to more than 135,000 residents. The service will use Matternet’s M2 drone system.

UPS Flight Forward has been exploring prospects for supporting the healthcare industry’s fight to stop the spread of COVID-19. In April, the company announced its participation in tests in Virginia with the US government and partners to determine how unmanned aerial systems can assist medical professionals in their fight to stop the spread of the virus. Drone transport offers a fast delivery option for medicines that are time-sensitive, whilst supporting social-distancing efforts. Drone delivery options provide individuals with a convenient alternative to visiting a pharmacy. This programme can also help prioritise the protection of healthcare personnel.

“This new drone delivery service will help CVS provide safe and efficient deliveries of medicines to this large retirement community, enabling residents to receive medications without leaving their homes,” said Scott Price, UPS Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer. “UPS is committed to playing its part in fighting the spread of COVID-19 and this is another way we can support our healthcare customers and individuals with innovative solutions.”

In 2019 UPS and CVS announced plans to jointly explore the use of drone delivery. The companies successfully completed first drone deliveries of medical prescriptions from a CVS pharmacy in Cary, North Carolina in November 2019. “Now more than ever, it’s important that our customers have access to their prescriptions,” said Jon Roberts, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of CVS Health.

The new service in The Villages in central Florida begins in early May under the Federal Aviation Administration’s Part 107 rules, with authority to operate through the pandemic and explore ongoing needs as they arise after that period. The operation could expand to include deliveries from two additional CVS pharmacies in the region.

Last year, UPS and Matternet initiated an ongoing revenuegenerating drone delivery service at WakeMed’s flagship hospital and campus in Raleigh, North Carolina, completing more than 3,700 flights to date under the FAA’s Part 107 rules. UPS also established UPS Flight Forward in June 2019, which later earned the Federal Aviation Administration’s Standard Part 135 Air Carrier certification to operate a drone air carrier in September 2019. The companies later initiated service at the University of California San Diego Health system, also under the FAA’s Part 107 rules.

UPS is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight; facilitating international trade, whilst deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. CVS Health employees are united around a common goal of becoming the most consumer-centric health company in the world. We are evolving based on changing consumer needs and meeting people where they are, whether that is in the community at one of our nearly 10,000 local touchpoints, in the home, or in the palm of their hand.

In addition to our in-store pickup, free delivery services and drive through pickup, this drone delivery service provides an innovative

method to reach some of our customers.