Rwanda Uses Drones to Deliver Blood

Why this is here: Hospitals served by drones decreased the amount of red blood cells they keep in stock by 63%, significantly reducing waste of this scarce resource.

In Rwanda, government officials began using drones in 2016 to deliver blood products to hospitals across challenging terrain. A recent study by Wharton experts and researchers at the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda assessed the decade-long project. They found drone delivery reduced in-hospital deaths among mothers with postpartum hemorrhage by 51% and among trauma patients by 30%.

Hospitals utilizing drones also decreased their stock of red blood cells by roughly 63%, lowering blood product waste by 40%. The study revealed hospitals closer to drone ports experienced greater improvements in health outcomes. Distance from the ports influenced both inventory management and the range of blood products used.

However, the research acknowledges that operational improvements don’t benefit all hospitals equally. The team continues to analyze the impact of port placement for future expansion. Officials in Rwanda are now broadening drone use to include additional products and ports, exploring applications beyond blood delivery.