Exploring the transformative role of drone technology in advancing healthcare delivery in Africa; a perspective

Abstract

This perspective article delves into the transformative potential of drone technology in revolutionising healthcare delivery in Africa. The continent faces numerous challenges in providing timely and efficient medical services to its vast and diverse population, compounded by geographical barriers, inadequate infrastructure and limited access to medical facilities. Amidst these challenges, the integration of drone technology emerges as a promising solution, offering unprecedented opportunities to overcome longstanding obstacles and improve healthcare accessibility across Africa. Drawing from existing drone-based healthcare initiatives in Africa, the article explores various applications of drones in healthcare delivery. These encompass but are not limited to, delivering vaccines, medications, blood samples, diagnostic tools and medical personnel to remote locations in a timely and cost-effective manner. Furthermore, the paper examines the operational challenges and regulatory considerations in deploying drone technology for healthcare and the ethical implications surrounding privacy and security.

Challenges & barriers for real-time integration of drones in emergency cardiac care: Lessons from the United States, Sweden, & Canada

“… 71 , 72 There are evolving data from African on drone use for the delivery of emergency medical supplies (e.g., blood samples, medications, vaccines, and diagnostic tools) to remote locations in a timely and cost-effective manner; however, little work has been done in this area yet for AED delivery. 73 , 74 , 75 We support continued international collaboration in the study of ways to best integrate AED-drones in to systems of emergency care for OHCA.…”

Examining medical urgent and patient precedence within the telemedicine landscape with its infrastructure and policies: A comprehensive review

“…The kind and quantity of sensor used depends on the illness that has to be tracked. Since the study's main focus is persistent coronary artery disease, this part assesses four pertinent medical sources that present heart function and symptoms experienced by patients (Olatunji et al 2023). Three detectors, along with a text resource, are used as data sources of information, as Table 1 illustrates.…”

Emerging Research Topics in Drone Healthcare Delivery

“…The focus was on the last-mile delivery challenges in these regions, where traditional delivery methods are often impeded by geographical and infrastructural barriers [60]. Studies highlighted the advantages of UAVs in overcoming these barriers, providing timely access to essential healthcare products in remote locations, often in developing countries with less stringent aviation regulations [61][62][63].…”