The use of drone technology is set to increase efficiency in delivering emergency drugs from main hospitals to dispensaries in Kisumu and adjoining counties.
Unlike in the past, when lower-level healthcare facilities would be in need of urgent supplies but fail to get them on time in case of urgency, such difficulties are now going to be a thing of the past, thanks to the use of drones.
The technology that was launched in Kisumu is now spreading to other counties in the lake region with Nyamira becoming the latest to adopt the transportation system which, according to experts, will improve health service delivery even in remote dispensaries.
In Nyamira, the technology was launched last week on Wednesday at Riang’ombe Dispensary, one of the far-flung healthcare centres in the county.
Riang’ombe will now use drones to get drugs from Nyamira County Referral Hospital.
Zipline Logistics, the company providing the service, will be serving hospitals in the South Rift and Nyanza at a cost stakeholders said will be much lower compared to ordinary arrangements where patients require ambulance evacuation because of a lack of one or more essential life-saving drugs.
“The drone delivery technology is a quick fix to emergency measures like transporting patients to facilities which could be having specific medicines or even blood supply.
With the drones, medicines and other consumables can be delivered within a maximum of 40 minutes,” Winfried Njeri, the Chief Executive of Zipline Logistics said during the launch.
Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo said despite the high efficiency of the delivery system, the company will also be safeguarding against pilferage of drugs. “All drugs classified as emergency drugs will now not be stocked in any other hospital.
Only the Referral Hospital which has the capacity to handle the drugs will be required to stock.
But all other facilities will be required to make orders whenever there is a need and delivery would be made within the quickest time possible using this technology,” Nyaribo said.
Health Executive Dr Timothy Ombati noted that Zipline has its own developed storage mechanisms which are even superior to those in many lower healthcare facilities, making it a better supplier.
“This is going to be a very cost-effective venture which we will have to fully utilise and all counties should take advantage of it and subscribe for the services,” Dr Ombati said.
