Gov't to introduce medical drones

Jul 31, 2019

The system will require health workers to place orders by text message and receive their deliveries in 30 minutes on average.

 
The Health Ministry has unveiled plans to introduce drones in the delivery of life-saving medicine, vaccines, and blood during emergencies.
 
According to experts, the system will require health workers to place orders by text message and receive their deliveries in 30 minutes on average.
 
Dr. Charles Olaro, the commissioner clinical services told the New Vision that they are engaged in discussions with a number of partners in the process of introducing medical drones.
 
According to Alaro, the approach is good and that the discussions were among others exploring the modalities of financing.
 
"The partner is finalising on how it is going to be financed and be able to see how to pull other partners who can support it,"Olaro said.
 
Globally, access to vital health products is hampered by the difficulty of supplying medicines from central storage to remotely located patients at the time of need.
 
Dr. Ekwaro Obuku, the president of Uganda Medical Association (UMA) said if the medical drones are introduced they will help to quickly deliver drugs to hard to reach areas especially when there are stock-outs of medicines.
 
"The medical drones can be effective, cost-saving and time-saving in quick delivery of life-saving medicines and blood to health facilities," Obuku said
 
He, however, said that the challenge could be in maintaining the technology and how to use it in situations where there is no electricity.
 
Early this year, Ghana inaugurated medical delivery drones in the city of Omenako. The drones designed by Zipline, a California-based robotics company have benefited 12 million people across the country.
 
At least up to 600 daily drone flight are made to deliver vaccines, blood supplies and life-saving medicines to 2,000 health centres in remote areas around the country.

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