By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Uganda’s Ministry of Health,
through the Department of National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services
(NHLDS), has successfully conducted Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone
test flights in Kalangala to assess the potential of drone technology in
transporting laboratory samples and medical supplies across island communities.
The tests aim to explore how
drone technology could help overcome geographical barriers, reduce specimen
transportation delays and shorten turnaround time (TAT), improving access to
timely diagnostic services.
According to the department,
the technology could support faster clinical decision-making and strengthen
outbreak surveillance by enabling more efficient transportation of laboratory
samples and medical supplies to and from island communities.
The test flights in
Kalangala form part of efforts to assess the potential of drone-based delivery
to address transportation challenges associated with geographical barriers and
improve access to diagnostic services.
The department said the
technology could help reduce delays in specimen transportation, allowing health
facilities to obtain diagnostic results more quickly and support timely
clinical decisions.
