A new entrant in the medical drone delivery industry is lifting off in Latin America.
California-based 19Labs, which has partnered with the government of Guyana to deploy remote telemedicine services across the country, on Wednesday announced it has added drones as a “value-added complement” to the network. The company’s Gale Force drone, which incorporates SpaceX Starlink connectivity and Nvidia artificial intelligence, can carry about 44 pounds of medications, vaccines, blood samples, and medical supplies for first response and disaster relief.
The drone’s first commercial flight in Guyana took place on June 3, delivering medications to the remote, indigenous village of Muritaro and returning samples to the lab. That “two-way” ability gives Gale Force an advantage over the P1 system developed by industry titan Zipline, which has completed well over 1 million deliveries primarily in rural areas. P1 drones are designed for “one-way” delivery, such as from a central hub to a hospital.
By next year, 19Labs plans to expand drone delivery across Guyana’s hinterland communities—remote areas far from the coastline that house an estimated 20 percent of the country’s population. The company said it is in “advanced discussions” with additional governments to add drones to its services in other countries. Outside Guyana, its virtual clinics are also active in Lebanon and parts of the Middle East.
The vision is for the service to improve medical access while cutting down on delivery times, cost, and medical waste.
How Gale Force Drones Deliver
19Labs got its start with a remotely accessible rural healthcare platform. But physical services add a new dimension to the offering.
“While telemedicine connects patients and healthcare providers, our drones ensure critical medical supplies, blood samples, antivenoms, and other lifesaving resources reach their destination safely and cost-effectively,” the company’s website reads. “Together, these technologies deliver a city-level standard of healthcare to the most inaccessible locations.”
19Labs unveiled Gale Force—developed in collaboration with IDB Lab, the venture arm of the Washington, D.C.-based Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)—in February. The IDB finances development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. The partners earlier this year announced plans for a Guyana drone delivery pilot that will reach an estimated 20,000 patients at 15 telemedicine facilities.
Built to operate in both urban areas and dense rainforests, Gale Force links to Starlink satellites to enable high-speed connectivity, even in locations that lack internet. Its remote pilot view provides the “same experience as manned aviation,” allowing drone operators to scout landing sites in advance and monitor weather conditions. It enables real-time video and data feeds even after landing, as well as two-way communication with on-site personnel.
The drone flies horizontally on fixed wings, with Nvidia AI enabling vertical takeoff and landing “anyplace, anywhere, day or night,” the company said, with no need for additional infrastructure. It cruises at about 55 mph—slightly faster than the gale force winds that inspired its name—and has a range of 124 sm. It is also IP55-rated for operations in light rain or dust.
Gale Force’s chilled and temperature-monitored cargo hold facilitates deliveries of medications, vaccines, and blood samples. It can also carry telemedicine kits and portable tools such as ultrasound or electrocardiography (ECG) devices.
While the drone is not robust enough for casualty evacuation, it can serve as an aerial first responder and provide relief for hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, fires, and other disasters. Zipline’s growing network, which has expanded from Rwanda to Ghana, Japan, and parts of the U.S. such as Dallas-Fort Worth, suggests that blueprint could have global demand, particularly in hard-to-reach locations.
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