MPs Okay Drones Deal but GMA Raises Red Flags

Lots of criticisms have arisen since government announced the implementation of the Autonomous Remotely Piloted Aircraft System to mitigate some challenges facing the Ghana’s health sector.

Amongst those who have punched holes into the yet-to-happen policy is the Ghana Medical Association (GMA).

Obviously not pleased with government’s decision to ‘hastily’ operationalise this strategy, the GMA has called on government to suspend with immediate effect, its plans to adopt the use of drone technology to deliver emergency medical supplies.

Broader Consultation

In a press statement signed by its President, Dr. Frank Ankobea, the GMA highlighted the need for a broader stakeholder engagement on the policy before its implementation.

“It is our firm belief that it is appropriate that we make known our perspectives on the issue despite the fact that the GMA was not consulted in this endeavor,” the statement read.

The concerns of the Association come hours after Ghana’s Parliament approved the controversial drones deal.

The agreement was approved yesterday, by a majority decision with 102 legislators voting for the policy while 58 opposed it.

The service agreement between Fly Zipline Ghana Limited and the government of Ghana is to enable the use of drones to distribute essential medicines to remote areas in Ghana.

But the GMA argues a drone service is not what the health sector currently needs adding that, government rather takes step to improve referral systems especially in emergency situations which to all intents and purposes, is more beneficial.

“The proposed services to be provided by the drones do not conform to the existing primary healthcare policy in Ghana, where different levels of care have different capacities to perform specific functions.

“The use of drones without the necessary improvement in the human resource capacity will not inure to the benefit of the country in its quest to improve healthcare delivery,” the statement read.

Per the terms of the agreement with the government of Ghana, Zipline will install, operate and maintain the drones.

Although the Minority in Parliament raised concerns over the cost of the project, the Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Anthony Nsiah Asare, disputed the figures saying the service would come at a zero cost to government.

Terms of agreement

The contract will run for four years and $88,000 will be used per a distribution centre per month when fully deployed.

Zipline is also guaranteeing an average emergency delivery time of less than an hour and at least 150 flights daily.

The drones will operate 24 hours a day from four distribution centres across the country. The distribution centres will stock 184 lifesaving and essential medical supplies including emergency blood and oxytocin to save women’s lives in childbirth.

Also to be airlifted are emergency medicines for surgeries, severe infections, antivenins and anti-rabies, diabetic emergencies and extremely high blood pressure emergencies.

Job creation

Zipline is also expected to employ over 200 Ghanaians, including pharmacists, engineers, flight operations, and many more essential and allied support staff.

Zipline will build a training centre in Ghana to support all of Zipline’s Anglophone West African operations.

The GMA was however quick to add that it is not against the use of technology to improve healthcare in the country.

By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey/ [email protected]