Romania’s largest private healthcare services company MedLife has launched the first mobile testing centre for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) using drone technology. 

The initiative trialled at Electric Castle, at one of the largest music festivals in Southeast Europe, involved the use of a medical drone to transport samples collected at the festival to the nearest laboratory, ensuring results were received within 24 hours of testing — so that festival goers could enjoy “responsible fun” before the end of the event, as a Medlife spokesperson put it. 

“[M]any festival-goers engage in short-term relationships without considering STI testing or protection, fearing judgment from their partners or even from healthcare providers. A subsequent study reinforced these perceptions and highlighted alarming data about the acute lack of knowledge regarding STI identification and prevention. Therefore, we mobilised our resources and took action, bringing the first mobile STI testing centre directly to the festival,” said Ina Badarau-Ilie, head of brand & communications at MedLife.

Explaining why a drone was used to deliver the results quickly, Badarau-Ilie added: “we used drones to transport samples, providing test results on the same day, thereby encouraging responsible fun.” 

The organisers of the Electric Castle festival summed up the plan on their Facebook page: "MedLife România brings Central and Southeast Europe’s first festival  mobile STD testing center to the Castle. Get free STD tested at MedLife and make sure happy endings are not itchy.” 

MedLife also offered free one-on-one counselling sessions with gynaecologists, urologists and psychologists, aiming to break down the stigma surrounding STIs and promote open discussions about sexual health.

Medlife pointed out that sexual education is still being a taboo subject in Romania, where 52% of young people report having unprotected sex, and nine out of 10 are exposed to risky behaviours regarding STIs. 

"It’s a challenge for a major medical brand to have a public, relaxed dialogue with young people about sexual health in a poorly informed country. Transporting samples from EC participants via medical drone to provide results in record time is more than just an activation – it’s a social statement that extends beyond the festival," said Ioana Munteanu, creative director of PR company Golin Romania, which worked with Medlife on the campaign.