Nana Akua Boatemaa, a resident of Omenako in the Eastern Region of Ghana, recounts the life-saving experience her daughter had with medical drone technology.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw the drone delivering the blood. It was like a miracle,” said Boatemaa.
Her daughter had severe malaria and required a blood transfusion, but the nearest hospital was hours away, and the local clinic lacked the necessary blood type. Within minutes, a drone delivered a bag of blood, saving her daughter’s life.
In April 2019, Zipline, a startup based in California, launched its initial four distribution centres in Ghana. These centres were strategically established to serve 2,500 health facilities in the country. Subsequently, the fourth distribution centre in Ghana began its operations in June 2020.
Equipped with advanced technology and capable of carrying essential medical cargo, these drones are reaching remote and underserved communities with unprecedented efficiency.
Medical supplies are carefully packaged in specially designated red boxes according to World Health Organisation guidelines .
These boxes are then placed inside the drone’s storage compartment. Afterwards, the drone is launched and begins its journey to the intended destination for delivery. The delivery process is contactless. Upon reaching the health facility, the drone opens its storage compartment and releases the box containing the supplies using a parachute to facilitate a gentle landing. A healthcare worker sanitises the box with disinfectant before taking it inside for further processing.
Zipline has completed over 370,000 deliveries of essential medical products, including blood supplies, vaccines, and various health commodities. These deliveries have reached over 2700 health facilities across Ghana.
“The drones have actually helped reduce the time it takes to get essential medical supplies to remote communities from days to just minutes,” said Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service.
He said Ghana has emerged as a leader in utilising drones for healthcare delivery, with Zipline launching its drone delivery service in 2019 to provide vital medical supplies to remote communities. This has significantly improved access to healthcare services in challenging rural areas where transportation is limited.
At the Butaro District in Northern Rwanda, Solange Uwimbabazi recalls how the medical drone technology saved her son’s life.
“I don’t know what we would have done without the medical drone. It saved my son’s life,” she said.
Her premature son needed oxygen therapy, but the nearest hospital was several hours away and lacked the necessary equipment. Within minutes, a drone delivered a canister of oxygen to the clinic.
In Rwanda, medical drones have reduced the time taken to deliver essential medical supplies to remote communities, particularly benefiting maternal and child health. The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund,UNICEF reports a marked improvement in maternal and child health since the introduction of the medical drone program.
Medical drones here have not only transformed healthcare delivery but also created job opportunities, especially for young people.
“I’m proud to be part of a program that is making a difference in people’s lives, particularly those in remote areas who may not have had access to medical supplies before,” said Patrick Mugisha, a medical drone operator in Rwanda.
Zipline is anticipating a significant growth in its business operations in Rwanda, the country where it initially launched, following an expanded agreement with the Rwandan government.
For the past seven years, Zipline’s drones have been successfully transporting medicine and blood supplies in Rwanda.
The company has already completed over 450,000 deliveries to date, and with the new government contract, it expects to make an additional 2 million deliveries by 2029. This extended scope will encompass various items such as financial payments, postal service items, food, and agricultural products.
Apart from enhancing healthcare accessibility, medical drone technology has proven cost-effective in Ghana and Rwanda.
Although there isn’t enough evidence to prove the direct effects of drones on health and related outcomes, these countries have successfully incorporated drones into their response strategies.
This is possible because they have established regulations, developed the necessary skills and resources, and gained social and political acceptance. By having these elements in place, they can rely on technology when it is required.
Also, the cost of delivering medical supplies via drones is significantly lower than traditional transportation methods. This cost-saving feature allows healthcare providers to allocate the saved funds to other critical areas of healthcare.
But the use of medical drones for delivering essential supplies is not only cost-effective but also holds the potential to save lives. In urgent situations like childbirth, the swift delivery of medical resources can make a critical difference.
Richard Mawutor Dzikunu, a Ghanaian health equity advocate based in Belgium, highlighted the significance of the medical drone technology in Africa’s healthcare system.
“With the drone delivery service, many African countries can now provide lifesaving medical supplies to remote communities quickly and efficiently,” he said.
He said this has particularly addressed the high maternal and infant mortality rates in areas lacking access to essential medical supplies.
But not everyone supports this innovation.
Critics argue that the use of medical drones in Africa is not exactly cost-effective, suggesting that resources should be allocated towards training healthcare professionals and improving infrastructure instead.
Henry Asubonteng, a healthcare policy expert based in Ghana, expressed concerns, saying, “While the idea of medical drones may appear novel and efficient, it is crucial to consider the long-term consequences. Instead of investing heavily in drone technology, we should prioritise building robust healthcare systems that can deliver sustainable and comprehensive care to our communities.”
He said stringent regulations and airspace restrictions may also hinder widespread adoption, necessitating standardised protocols and regulatory frameworks. And adverse weather conditions, such as strong winds and precipitation, impede timely delivery of vital medical supplies.
“These regulatory and safety considerations, such as accidents, privacy concerns, and establishing public trust, have not been effectively addressed in some of the African countries using this type of technology,” he said.
However, recognizing the importance of medical drones, the African Union said integration of the technology should be carried out thoughtfully, ethically, and in collaboration with local healthcare providers and communities.
The AU has incorporated medical drones as a key component of its agenda for achieving universal health coverage by 2030. The organisation also launched the Africa Medical Supplies Platform in 2020, utilising medical drone technology to deliver medical supplies to African countries.
Medical drones in Africa have been found to effectively address geographical barriers, transportation limitations, and poor infrastructure, thus revolutionising healthcare in the region. And for communities with limited access to healthcare services, the technology serves as a crucial lifeline.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman
