GMA backs use of drones to improve healthcare delivery

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA), has welcomed government’s decision to procure drones to distribute blood and other essential drugs to remote areas of the country.

This is expected to come into force September this year, 2018.

The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, announced this week that the move is part of efforts to ensure effective healthcare delivery.

Whiles attending the 2018 Annual Health Summit in Accra, the Vice President with other officials of the Health Ministry, signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will eventually start the process to bring the technology into the country,

“By the grace of God; there are ongoing discussions, we are looking at innovative ways to deliver blood supplies as well as essential medicines to remote areas. As the rains come in, some areas are going to be cut off… Do we allow mothers to die because we can’t have blood supplies or essential medicines? Ghana this week, will be signing an MOU and by the middle of this year or by September, we will join Malawi and Rwanda with using drone technology to deliver blood supplies and essential medicines. So we are going to do that this year,” he said.

He also announced the procurement of 275 ambulances for all 275 constituencies.

“You cannot have a National Ambulance Service without ambulances, it becomes a problem. So the government has through the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives, which works with the Development Authorities, begun the processes of procuring ambulances for every constituency in this country, and we have 275 constituencies, so we will procure 275 ambulances, all of which will become a part of the national ambulances system to help in the development of health services,” Dr. Bawumia said.

According to him, each constituency will be given one of the ambulances.

The GMA, while praising the drone idea, also asked government to improve health workers’ conditions of service.

General Secretary of the GMA, Dr. Justice Yankson, asked government to strengthen all areas of medical health by providing functional equipment to provide the right medical care.

“Well, for us as an Association, on countless occasions, we have bemoaned the state of emergency medical service in the country, so if efforts are being made by the government, to ensure we strengthen that aspect of our health care delivery, then we say kudos,” he said.

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By: Farida Yusif/citinewsroom.com/Ghana

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