Coronavirus: Robot to deliver meals, medicine to patients in Singapore

Alexandra Hospital in Singapore is set to make use of a robot to distribute meals and medication to some patients suspected or confirmed to have coronavirus. The hospital will also task another robot with the responsibility of cleaning and chatting with patients in four languages including Singlish.

The disclosure was made by the spokesperson of the hospital, who said the robot that will distribute meals and medication will begin its duty by the end of the month – the robot is called BeamPro, CNN reports.
GIOTV gathers that there is one confirmed case of coronavirus at Alexandra Hospital, but the patient remains in stable condition after being admitted on February 15.

While briefing media on Wednesday, March 4, the hospital spokesperson said the hospital has 14 suspected cases in isolation. According to the hospital, it houses BeamPro at the hospital’s Centre for Innovation in Healthcare for over three months before the outbreak of coronavirus. BeamPro’s trial use began two weeks ago and it made it possible for patients to be inspected remotely being isolated. The robot will now be used to distribute meals and medication to patients.

The clinical director of health technology at Alexandra Hospital, Dr. Alexander Yip, said: “The main aim of this telepresence robot is to reduce the unnecessary risk of exposure to healthcare workers by allowing us to move the robot into the room instead.”