[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":326},["ShallowReactive",2],{"slug-digital-health-in-rwanda":3},{"post":4,"relatedPosts":200,"relatedBooks":325},{"id":5,"date":6,"date_gmt":7,"guid":8,"modified":10,"modified_gmt":11,"slug":12,"status":13,"type":14,"link":15,"title":16,"content":18,"excerpt":21,"author":23,"featured_media":24,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":29,"categories":30,"tags":33,"project_category":50,"contact_email_category":52,"yst_prominent_words":53,"class_list":63,"better_featured_image":89,"acf":135,"yoast_meta":144,"_links":147},21678,"2018-08-29T07:00:56","2018-08-29T05:00:56",{"rendered":9},"http:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F","2022-03-08T14:11:01","2022-03-08T13:11:01","digital-health-in-rwanda","publish","post","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdigital-health-in-rwanda",{"rendered":17},"Rwanda And The Dreamers Of Digital Health in Africa: Wakanda Is Real",{"rendered":19,"protected":20},"\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"5px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp style=\"color: #555;font-size: 12px;line-height: 14px\">THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2018. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY BE OUT OF DATE NOW. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmagazine\">BROWSE OUR LATEST ARTICLES HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Ftbody>\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Rwandans in remote villages are using an artificial intelligence-based algorithm on their mobile phones to get a diagnosis for their health problems, doctors in Kigali consult their colleagues in the Western Province about radiology cases through telemedicine, blood is delivered by Zipline’s medical drones, and a central electronic health records system ensures data is collected about health activities. Rwanda is a pioneer in digital health in Africa – a real Afrofuturistic embodiment of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.imdb.com\u002Ftitle\u002Ftt1825683\u002F?ref_=nv_sr_1\">Black Panther\u003C\u002Fa>‘s Wakanda. Let’s see how and why that happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003C!--more-->\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wakanda gets real in Rwanda\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Black Panther’s Wakanda with its gorgeous African landscapes, fierce waterfalls, peoples living in harmony and technological absoluteness represents a mighty utopian endpoint for many countries. How does healing look like in a high-tech paradise like Wakanda? When CIA agent Everett Ross was shot in the spine by one of the main villains, Klaue, the Wakandan team brought him back to the country after stabilizing him on the spot. In the tech lab, Shuri, sister of the king uses virtual reality coupled with rapid diagnostic imaging to diagnose Ross. He wakes up 24 hours later, and his wounds are healed. We can see how he stands up from a bed, where all medical data is contained around his head, and his state is constantly monitored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While the Rwandan economy isn’t based on the superstrong and powerful material, the vibranium, the technological advancement, especially in the area of creating a digital society backed up with digital health, sets it apart from its environment. Artificial intelligence, telemedicine, medical drones, health apps, and mobile solutions are bringing the country to the 21st century. And just as in Wakanda, they are combining high-tech with traditions. Let’s see in details, how it happens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"363\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FWakanda_Medical_Center_3-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21708\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FWakanda_Medical_Center_3-1.png 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FWakanda_Medical_Center_3-1-768x320.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FWakanda_Medical_Center_3-1-512x213.png 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>From community-based health insurance through broadband to digital health\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>After the devastating genocide 24 years ago, the Rwandans had to completely rebuild the entire country, including their healthcare system. The government has contributed immensely to this development; for example, expenditures on healthcare have increased from 3.2 percent in 1998 to 9.7 percent in 2008, and it did not stop there. \u003Cstrong>Major healthcare reforms have gone down throughout the years – starting from introducing the mandatory health insurance scheme from 2008 on. Ten years later, more than 90 percent of the population was already covered by community-based health insurance schemes.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But that was just the beginning. Step by step, in line with the rapid technological development around the globe, Rwanda embraced digital technology on every level. Dr. Zuberi Muvunyi, Director General in the Clinical and Public Health Services Department, told The Medical Futurist that “\u003Cem>the Rwandan government has made smart health as one of the pillars of their information and communication technology (ICT) policy. ICT was really something that the government has put in front in general for the development of this country\u003C\u002Fem>.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FCog369EUAAAxd0l.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21700\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FCog369EUAAAxd0l.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FCog369EUAAAxd0l-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FCog369EUAAAxd0l-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FCog369EUAAAxd0l-512x288.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>The backbone of the digital society: broadband, cables, and phones\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Similar to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fwhat-the-hell-is-blockchain-what-does-it-mean-for-healthcare-and-pharma\">the Baltic country, Estonia\u003C\u002Fa>, Rwanda has aimed for digitalizing the nation in many areas. As a country with 12 million people and no significant natural resources, the leadership recognized that the service sector could mean the potential development path for Rwanda. They also identified the massive promise in the ICT sector very early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It all started with cables and broadband. The government \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dr-hempel-network.com\u002Fhealth-policies-in-india\u002Fdigital-health-sector-in-rwanda\u002F\">already invested a hundred million dollars in building a bandwidth or fiber network infrastructure\u003C\u002Fa> over a 2,796-mile vast land. Dr. Zuberi says that \u003Cstrong>90 percent of the entire country is covered by 4G. Some are using even 5G, while fiber optic cables are covering almost the whole country.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>The mobile phone penetration is 75 percent, and smartphone penetration started to skyrocket in the last months\u003C\u002Fstrong>. “\u003Cem>When I first went to Rwanda two and a half years ago, every mobile phone shop had feature phones, and smartphones were on the bottom shelf. Now, what’s happening is every shelf is smartphones except for the bottom shelf because new and cheap handsets are flooding into African countries from places like China\u003C\u002Fem>”, explained Tracey McNeill, Chief Mobilisation Officer at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.babylonhealth.com\u002F\">Babylon Health\u003C\u002Fa>, who has been CEO of babyl Rwanda and worked in the country for almost three years to establish their feature phone-based health service.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-21682\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"869\" height=\"544\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FSub-Saharan-Africa-Is-The-Worlds-Fastest-Growing-Mobile-Market-1.jpg\" alt=\"digital health in Africa\" class=\"wp-image-21682\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FSub-Saharan-Africa-Is-The-Worlds-Fastest-Growing-Mobile-Market-1.jpg 869w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FSub-Saharan-Africa-Is-The-Worlds-Fastest-Growing-Mobile-Market-1-768x481.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FSub-Saharan-Africa-Is-The-Worlds-Fastest-Growing-Mobile-Market-1-512x321.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 869px) 100vw, 869px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Sub-Saharan Africa Is The Worlds Fastest Growing Mobile Market. Source: www.afridigest.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>A principal\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong> factor of success: the digitally-savvy government\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>McNeill and Muvunyi both emphasized the decisive role that the government is playing in transforming the country apace towards a digital society – and shifting the entire healthcare system towards digital health. A great example was when Agnes Binagwaho, former Minister of Health held discussions on Twitter about the healthcare state of Rwanda using the #MinisterMondays hashtag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>What amazes me about countries like Rwanda is that they have strong, focused leadership and the government really wants to improve the lives of the average Rwandan\u003C\u002Fem>,\u003C\u002Fstrong>” noted McNeill. She also believes that for the sustainability of digital products such as babyl, it is essential to understand how it’s going to be paid for in advance – \u003Cem>and in most African countries, it’s either paid for by the patient in pocket expenses or by the government\u003C\u002Fem>, she said. Thus, the government could signify kind of a safety guard, while the general health insurance scheme means a basis for further development.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Muvunyi explained that \u003Cstrong>Kigali was careful enough to make the digital transformation a step-by-step process in every area.\u003C\u002Fstrong> After having \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.biometricupdate.com\u002F201605\u002Frwanda-to-introduce-new-eid-card\">introduced the electronic ID in 2016\u003C\u002Fa>, and the electronic passport this year, the healthcare sector was not to stay behind. At first, Rwanda introduced electronic health records for HIV services in partnership with intergovernmental organizations, WHO, Global Fund, OCDC or the US Government. Then they expanded the EHR system to manage financial aspects, registration, consultation, clinical records, etc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Currently, they are using an e-LMIS for the management of medical supplies, lab management systems for logistics in laboratories and a rapid SMS system. Using the latter, the approximately \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fhuman-resources-health.biomedcentral.com\u002Farticles\u002F10.1186\u002F1478-4491-12-71\">60,000 community health workers in the country\u003C\u002Fa> can report about any emergency to the Health Ministry in a short time. Muvunyi noted that \u003Cstrong>right now, they are integrating all the various systems together, and approximately within the next ten years, the Rwandan medical landscape will be completely transformed with a strong focus on digital health.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-21683\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"483\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FCommunity-Health-Workers-in-Rwanda.jpg\" alt=\"digital health in Africa\" class=\"wp-image-21683\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FCommunity-Health-Workers-in-Rwanda.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FCommunity-Health-Workers-in-Rwanda-768x427.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FCommunity-Health-Workers-in-Rwanda-512x284.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: www.millionssaved.cgdev.org\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Key\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong> to innovation: partnerships and no overregulation\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Not only the step-by-step process, but \u003Cstrong>collaborations have also played a pivotal role in shaping the healthcare system in the African country. These collaborations do not just mean joint work with governments, NGOs or IGOs as mentioned before but also with companies such as Zipline or babyl.\u003C\u002Fstrong> “\u003Cem>Rwanda approached us: when we launched Babylon Health in the UK, the Rwandan ambassador to the UK came to our event and said this is exactly what we need in Rwanda. So he invited us to go to Rwanda and meet the Ministry of Health. And then the Ministry of ICT called us, and we decided in partnership with the government to set up our network in the country\u003C\u002Fem>”, explained McNeill. Currently, the feature-phone based health service has over 2 million users, and they have done 200,000 consultations for just under two years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Also in 2016, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fmoney.cnn.com\u002F2016\u002F10\u002F13\u002Ftechnology\u002Frwanda-drone-hospital\u002F\">the Rwandan government teamed up with Zipline, a medical drone manufacturing company\u003C\u002Fa> to deliver medical supplies to five of its hospitals. The American start-up appeared earlier on the African market than in the US – as the government supported it and looser regulations allowed it. It was only after its Rwandan success that \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2016\u002F8\u002F2\u002F12350274\u002Fzipline-drone-delivery-us-launch-blood-medicine\">the White House reached out to Zipline\u003C\u002Fa> expressing interest in delivering medicine and blood to rural parts of the US. When The Medical Futurist asked Justin Hamilton, Zipline’s spokesperson, why the start-up first choose Rwanda, he mentioned two factors: “\u003Cem>On one hand due to the high medical needs, on the other hand, due to the low complexity of navigating the airspace – it is much less crowded and regulated as in the US\u003C\u002Fem>. “\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-21680\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"574\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FZipline-Drones-To-Deliver-Blood-in-Rwanda.jpg\" alt=\"digital health in Africa\" class=\"wp-image-21680\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FZipline-Drones-To-Deliver-Blood-in-Rwanda.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FZipline-Drones-To-Deliver-Blood-in-Rwanda-768x507.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FZipline-Drones-To-Deliver-Blood-in-Rwanda-512x338.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: www.time.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Jointly shaped rules and easy start for businesses: a recipe for success \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, the lack of regulation can also pose challenges for companies eager to enter the Rwandan market. McNeill said that one of the biggest challenges for Babylon Health in the African country was working with the government because “\u003Cem>there was no regulatory framework and no standards for digital healthcare\u003C\u002Fem>.” As a result, they worked very closely with the Ministry of Health, and they developed the regulatory framework and standards together for a successful operation in Rwanda.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In spite of the challenges, \u003Cstrong>entrepreneurs and start-ups are flocking to Rwanda, so it is clear that they can get out benefits from co-shaped regulations. Muvunyi said that companies from India, Japan, Korea, so mainly Asians are knocking on Rwanda’s doors\u003C\u002Fstrong> – Europeans rarely do that, although the director general would welcome them, too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It is far from rocket science to launch a business venture in Rwanda. Foreign nationals can easily obtain an entrepreneur visa for tech start-ups in a short time span, at no cost and online. More so, Rwanda is secure, and the corruption level is almost non-existent. In case of a healthcare company, the Rwandan Development Board is responsible for explaining the requirements, then companies have to state their compliance with the Rwanda Utility Regulatory Authority, then register at the Ministry of Health. As everything could be done online, it shortens the process and lowers the costs as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-21684\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FBabyl-Health-in-Rwanda.jpg\" alt=\"digital health in Africa\" class=\"wp-image-21684\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FBabyl-Health-in-Rwanda.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FBabyl-Health-in-Rwanda-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FBabyl-Health-in-Rwanda-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FBabyl-Health-in-Rwanda-512x288.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>babyl A.I. being demonstrated to The Minister of Health Dr. Diane Gashumba at the babyl office. Source: twitter.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Fight against doctor shortages: phone-based platform, telemedicine, drones\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>That’s the best recipe for attracting businesses: making it easy and smooth for innovative start-ups to operate. In countries like Rwanda, you genuinely need that when you have to fight against shortages of medical professionals and diseases such as malaria, HIV, respiratory infections or Hepatitis B and C.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Muvunyi mentioned that \u003Cstrong>they only have “\u003Cem>one doctor for more than 10,000 that is way above WHO recommendations. For nurses, maybe we have one nurse for 5,000, while the WHO recommendation is one for 3,000\u003C\u002Fem>.” He believes that telehealth solutions, phone-based platforms such as babyl, and medical drones mean a viable solution\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And not only are these companies present in the country, but they are also expanding and innovating with the full support of the Rwandan government. Zipline is deploying its second launching site, while babyl is working on its artificial intelligence solution for tablets used by community health workers. McNeill explained that they started to use A.I. in their call center as a method for triaging patients, while their final goal is to „\u003Cem>put an artificial intelligence doctor’s brain into the hands of community-based health workers\u003C\u002Fem>.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, telemedicine became a daily routine for doctors in Rwanda. Muvuny proudly explained how someone in the provincial hospital in the Western Province of Rwanda could send a CT scan to a hospital in Kigali, and in 5 minutes, could have a report back. Through videoconferences or online consultations, they can decide whether they operate the patient, if they put in more medical treatment, and so on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The government has also \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fglobal-development\u002F2018\u002Fjan\u002F31\u002Frwanda-becomes-first-poor-country-to-provide-eye-care-for-all\">partnered with the organization Vision for a Nation (VFAN) to train more than 3,000 eye care nurses\u003C\u002Fa> based in 502 local health centers, prescribing glasses and referring those with serious eye problems to public clinics. Nurses have visited each of Rwanda’s 15,000 villages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-21685\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"579\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FNurses-Learning-E-Skills.jpg\" alt=\"digital health in Africa\" class=\"wp-image-21685\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FNurses-Learning-E-Skills.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FNurses-Learning-E-Skills-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002FNurses-Learning-E-Skills-512x340.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: www.ideas4development.org\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>John Lennon and Rwanda as a beacon of digital health\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Muvunyi mentioned that countries from around the world are interested in the Rwandan experience. \u003Cstrong>Delegations from the Middle East, from Latin America or from other African nations come to Kigali and discuss best practices\u003C\u002Fstrong> and how to implement solutions in their own countries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Regarding the region, Kenya is particularly intrigued\u003C\u002Fstrong>. McNeill said that Babylon Health is also looking at the country as well as Nigeria, and they hope to roll out their services next year. “\u003Cem>Kenya is perfect timing for us at the moment because the government that was reelected has made healthcare one of the four key pillars of the next four years regarding an essential area for growth and investment\u003C\u002Fem>,” added McNeill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And what about the future of Rwanda? Muvunyi says that in two years, they plan to perform minimally invasive surgeries using artificial intelligence and robots in some hospitals. When looking further down the road, he sees a wholly transformed medical system within ten years. He said he likes to describe the situation with John Lennon’s song, Imagine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>Some people think that we are dreamers, but we are no longer dreamers, we are living it now with babyl, Zipline, and many other initiatives.\u003C\u002Fstrong> \u003Cstrong>We hope that many will join us to form a bigger community of dreamers in digital health\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cstrong>”, \u003C\u002Fstrong>he added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",false,{"rendered":22,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>Rwandans in remote villages are using an artificial intelligence-based algorithm on their mobile phones to get a diagnosis for their health problems, doctors in Kigali consult their colleagues in the Western Province about radiology cases through telemedicine, blood is delivered by Zipline’s medical drones, and a central electronic health records system ensures data is collected about health activities. Rwanda is a pioneer in digital health in Africa – a real Afrofuturistic embodiment of Black Panther’s Wakanda. Let’s see how and why that happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",6,21698,"closed",true,"","standard",{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[31,32],521,800,[34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49],1029,406,1030,526,614,134,648,144,723,168,207,869,275,323,1028,324,[51],952,[],[54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62],1571,1617,1681,1707,1715,1723,1883,2987,3143,[64,14,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88],"post-21678","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-future-medicine","category-healthcare-policy","tag-development","tag-smartphone","tag-medical-drone","tag-africa","tag-drones","tag-ai","tag-government","tag-artificial-intelligence","tag-telemedicine","tag-chatbot","tag-digital-health","tag-regulation","tag-healthcare","tag-mobile-app","tag-rwanda","tag-mobile-health","project_category-policy-makers",{"id":24,"alt_text":90,"caption":27,"description":27,"media_type":91,"media_details":92,"post":5,"source_url":134},"Wakanda","image",{"width":93,"height":94,"file":95,"sizes":96,"image_meta":131},870,362,"2018\u002F08\u002F1_BIBhXSnnVXXPnlrb10h8Ng.png",{"medium":97,"large":103,"thumbnail":108,"medium_large":112,"large_old_512x213":113,"thumbnail_old_150x150":118,"medium_old_370x208":120,"medium_large_old_768x319":123,"large_old_512x213_old_512x213":128},{"file":98,"width":99,"height":100,"mime-type":101,"source_url":102},"1_BIBhXSnnVXXPnlrb10h8Ng-370x208.png",370,208,"image\u002Fpng","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002F1_BIBhXSnnVXXPnlrb10h8Ng-370x208.png",{"file":104,"width":105,"height":106,"mime-type":101,"source_url":107},"1_BIBhXSnnVXXPnlrb10h8Ng-768x320.png",768,320,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002F1_BIBhXSnnVXXPnlrb10h8Ng-768x320.png",{"file":109,"width":110,"height":110,"mime-type":101,"source_url":111},"1_BIBhXSnnVXXPnlrb10h8Ng-150x150.png",150,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002F1_BIBhXSnnVXXPnlrb10h8Ng-150x150.png",{"file":104,"width":105,"height":106,"mime-type":101,"source_url":107},{"file":114,"width":115,"height":116,"mime-type":101,"source_url":117},"1_BIBhXSnnVXXPnlrb10h8Ng-512x213.png",512,213,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002F1_BIBhXSnnVXXPnlrb10h8Ng-512x213.png",{"file":109,"width":119,"height":119,"mime-type":101,"source_url":111},"150",{"file":98,"width":121,"height":122,"mime-type":101,"source_url":102},"370","208",{"file":124,"width":125,"height":126,"mime-type":101,"source_url":127},"1_BIBhXSnnVXXPnlrb10h8Ng-768x319.png","768","319","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002F1_BIBhXSnnVXXPnlrb10h8Ng-768x319.png",{"file":114,"width":129,"height":130,"mime-type":101,"source_url":117},"512","213",{"aperture":132,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":132,"copyright":27,"focal_length":132,"iso":132,"shutter_speed":132,"title":27,"orientation":132,"keywords":133},"0",[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F08\u002F1_BIBhXSnnVXXPnlrb10h8Ng.png",{"related_posts":136,"related_posts_footer":140,"cta_type":27,"cta_color":27,"subtitle":27,"related_books":20},[137,138,139],20658,21665,13395,[141,142,143],16189,15467,14723,{"yoast_wpseo_title":145,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":146,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":15},"Wakanda Is Real: Digital Health In Africa - The Medical Futurist","Rwanda is a pioneer in digital health in Africa. The Medical Futurist explains in its analysis how and why that happened.",{"self":148,"collection":154,"about":157,"author":160,"replies":163,"version-history":166,"predecessor-version":170,"wp:featuredmedia":174,"wp:attachment":177,"wp:term":180,"curies":196},[149],{"href":150,"targetHints":151},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F21678",{"allow":152},[153],"GET",[155],{"href":156},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts",[158],{"href":159},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftypes\u002Fpost",[161],{"embeddable":26,"href":162},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fusers\u002F6",[164],{"embeddable":26,"href":165},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=21678",[167],{"count":168,"href":169},25,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F21678\u002Frevisions",[171],{"id":172,"href":173},40415,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F21678\u002Frevisions\u002F40415",[175],{"embeddable":26,"href":176},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F21698",[178],{"href":179},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=21678",[181,184,187,190,193],{"taxonomy":182,"embeddable":26,"href":183},"category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=21678",{"taxonomy":185,"embeddable":26,"href":186},"post_tag","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=21678",{"taxonomy":188,"embeddable":26,"href":189},"project_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=21678",{"taxonomy":191,"embeddable":26,"href":192},"contact_email_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=21678",{"taxonomy":194,"embeddable":26,"href":195},"yst_prominent_words","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=21678",[197],{"name":198,"href":199,"templated":26},"wp","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.w.org\u002F{rel}",[201],{"id":143,"date":202,"date_gmt":203,"guid":204,"modified":206,"modified_gmt":207,"slug":208,"status":13,"type":14,"link":209,"title":210,"content":212,"excerpt":214,"author":23,"featured_media":216,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":20,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":217,"categories":218,"tags":220,"project_category":231,"contact_email_category":232,"yst_prominent_words":233,"class_list":236,"better_featured_image":249,"acf":279,"yoast_meta":280,"_links":283},"2017-01-12T18:34:16","2017-01-12T16:34:16",{"rendered":205},"http:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?p=14723","2022-05-18T18:26:43","2022-05-18T16:26:43","medical-drones","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmedical-drones",{"rendered":211},"Medical Drones Will Thrive in Healthcare: A Safe Road to Health",{"rendered":213,"protected":20},"\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"5px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp style=\"color: #555;font-size: 12px;line-height: 14px\">THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2017. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY BE OUT OF DATE NOW. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmagazine\">BROWSE OUR LATEST ARTICLES HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Ftbody>\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Time is crucial in healing, no matter whether it’s about a natural disaster, heart attack or an organ transplant. In future medical emergencies, where urgent response will be necessary, drones will mean the fastest answer\u003Cem>.\u003C\u002Fem> They will fly the extra mile in delivering drugs, vaccines, blood or organs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003C!--more-->\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Drones are the future of delivery\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>According to my geek calendar, 2017 will be the year of the drone. These advanced versions of model airplanes or unmanned aerial vehicles are everywhere on the rise. According to the \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002Finteractive\u002F2015\u002Ftechnology\u002Fguide-to-civilian-drones.html\">estimates of the Consumer Technology Association\u003C\u002Fa>, 9.4 million units were projected to be sold in 2016 worldwide; and the number will soar in 2017. The use of drones in aerial photography or monitoring seems pretty obvious, but some fans are already organizing drone races and a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=LiZH5eH5eDw\">less fortunate guy caught her cheating wife with it\u003C\u002Fa>. But it was certainly Amazon, which generated the biggest buzz last year by its announcement about delivering goods by drones; and that it actually \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2016\u002F12\u002F14\u002F13952240\u002Famazon-drone-delivery-launch-uk\">delivered the first packages with popcorn and fire TV to its customers in the UK in December\u003C\u002Fa>. And it’s not a surprise it was not in the US or China.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"582\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Ffuture-of-delivery-by-drones.jpg\" alt=\"Future of Delivery - Medical Drones\" class=\"wp-image-14727\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Ffuture-of-delivery-by-drones.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Ffuture-of-delivery-by-drones-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Ffuture-of-delivery-by-drones-512x343.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Ffuture-of-delivery-by-drones-374x250.jpg 374w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>What if cakes or books will fall from the sky?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In 2014, when \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fabcnews.go.com\u002FUS\u002Ffaa-slaps-drone-beer-delivery-service-ice-fishermen\u002Fstory?id=22314625\">a Minnesota brewery decided to use a drone to fly beer\u003C\u002Fa> to ice fishers out on a frozen lake, the US authorities stepped in some days later due to safety concerns and violations of aviation codes. Something similar happened a year earlier in China, but instead of beer, the flying objects involved some cakes and pies. A \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.dailymail.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Farticle-2380095\u002FChina-grounds-worlds-CAKE-DRONES-fears-fall-someones-head-novelty-delivery-service-goes-sweet-sour.html\">bakery in Shanghai decided to fly the sweet delicacies to their customers\u003C\u002Fa>, but the local aviation authorities grounded the drones due to lack of permits and safety issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Although regulators are catching up with drone technology, there are many concerns. The biggest issue is that drones or their packages could fall on passers-by. They could collide with aircraft, or according to The New York Times, slow down rescue operations. Drones capturing aerial footage of wildfires have \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2015\u002F07\u002F20\u002Fus\u002Fhobby-drones-hinder-california-firefighting-efforts.html\">hindered efforts\u003C\u002Fa> by helicopter and airplane pilots to put out blazes. There are also concerns about use of drones to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.eff.org\u002Fissues\u002Fsurveillance-drones\">violate privacy\u003C\u002Fa> and to \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2015\u002F04\u002F23\u002Fus\u002Fdrones-smuggle-contraband-over-prison-walls.html\">smuggle\u003C\u002Fa> weapons or drugs into prisons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\u003Cp style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u003Cem>It is obvious that law-makers have to craft appropriate, drone-related regulations as soon as possible, ideally before the wider spread of drones, especially those delivering lifesaving drugs or medical objects.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>We have a situation here, please, send us the drone aid!\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Drones have great potential in making the transport of drugs, vaccines or medical aids faster. They are able to help in circumstances when time is crucial; e.g. in situations requiring urgent responses, during disasters or medical emergencies. Google, the tech giant with a significant medical portfolio, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fqz.com\u002F655314\u002Fgoogle-wants-to-call-drones-to-medical-emergencies-at-the-push-of-a-button\u002F\">patented a device that can call for a drone in emergency situations\u003C\u002Fa> to fly in with life-saving medical equipment on board. You would push a button, and a drone would appear on the spot. How amazing would that sound? And what about drones deliver automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) directly to people who have just suffered a heart attack? \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffuturism.com\u002Flive-saving-medical-devices-could-soon-be-delivered-by-drone-to-heart-attack-victims\u002F\">Researchers from the University of Toronto are already experimenting with the idea\u003C\u002Fa> based on their inspiration from ambulance drones in the Netherlands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ambulance Drones Could Be Saving The World Soon\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FsEPkHrQeDYk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But drones might not only be useful when urgent relief is necessary, but when ambulances are out of reach – e.g. due to bad road conditions or remote areas. It might also be the case when ambulances need urgent access to certain rare drugs or blood supplies. Here are the most common examples of drone-use in medicine and healthcare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Drones eagerly respond to disasters\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>One of the earliest medical utilization of these unmanned aerial vehicles were in catastrophes. Various \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.mayoclinic.org\u002Fmedical-professionals\u002Fclinical-updates\u002Ftrauma\u002Fmedical-drones-poised-to-take-off\">drones successfully delivered small aid packages after the Haitian earthquake in 2012\u003C\u002Fa>. They were also able to help in humanitarian operations for collecting data and imagery where infrastructure was destroyed or already lacking; including \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.jems.com\u002Farticles\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fdrones-tested-for-disaster-response.html\">in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan in 2013\u003C\u002Fa>. This year, after the Obama administration somewhat eased the use of small drones by real estate agents, farmers, filmmakers and countless other commercial operators, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.jems.com\u002Farticles\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fdrones-tested-for-disaster-response.html\">experts tested drones in New Jersey for disaster response\u003C\u002Fa>. In December, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.emsworld.com\u002Fnews\u002F12286508\u002Ftelemedical-drone-project-debuts-in-miss\">two disaster drones delivered telemedical packages\u003C\u002Fa> to victims and rescue personnel in a simulated mass casualty event at an airport in Mississippi. I believe that within the next 3-5 years, technology and regulation will allow for the development of a more effective disaster response with the help of these small and agile helpers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fdisaster-relief-drones.jpeg\" alt=\"Disaster Relief Drones - Medical Drones\" class=\"wp-image-14729\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fdisaster-relief-drones.jpeg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fdisaster-relief-drones-768x461.jpeg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fdisaster-relief-drones-512x307.jpeg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fdisaster-relief-drones-417x250.jpeg 417w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Delivering vaccines to the jungles\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Disruptive health technologies might \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-10-most-innovative-health-technologies-saving-millions-in-the-developing-world\u002F\">save millions of lives in the developing world\u003C\u002Fa> since they are creative, reliable, easy-to-use and cheap. Just as drone delivery. A \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.sciencedaily.com\u002Freleases\u002F2016\u002F06\u002F160621112101.htm\">research published in 2016\u003C\u002Fa> led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Centre suggests the same. It also adds that using drones might also improve vaccination rates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Doctors Without Borders already used them in Papua New Guinea to transport dummy TB test samples from a remote village to the large coastal city of Kerema. In \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.digitaltrends.com\u002Fcool-tech\u002Fdrones-healthcare-madagascar\u002F\">Madagascar\u003C\u002Fa>, with the support of the government and USAID, these small flying vehicles were also able to collect some medical samples from remote villages in the rural area of the country for the first time in 2016. Drones are also currently being tested for medical supply deliveries in rural Virginia and Bhutan. UNICEF is testing the feasibility of using them to transport lab samples in Malawi. And in Tanzania, there are efforts afoot to transport blood and essential medications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Vayu's Drones Deliver Healthcare in Rural Madagascar\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002Fg-Z0x0ZekTQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>One of the finest examples on the market is the Silicon Valley start-up, Zipline. In 2016, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fmoney.cnn.com\u002F2016\u002F10\u002F13\u002Ftechnology\u002Frwanda-drone-hospital\u002F\">the Rwandan government teamed up with the company\u003C\u002Fa> to deliver medical supplies to five of its hospitals. Within a year, they plan to expand the program to nearly half of the country’s 45 hospitals. The drones will make up to 150 deliveries a day – and reduce the previously 4-hour-long delivery to 15 minutes! It’s pretty easy: a health worker can place an order by text message. Within minutes, a drone is launched into the sky racing at 100 km\u002Fh. The medical products are then dropped off, landing gently and accurately at the health facility in an open area the size of a few parking spaces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Justin Hamilton, Zipline’s spokesman, told me that the reception of medical drones by the locals is amazing. Every day, we have hundreds of Rwandans lining up along the fence of the distribution center to watch operations. The whole crowd cheers for every single take-off and landing throughout the day. Some people show up at 6am to get good seats! He added, the company chose Rwanda due to the very high medical needs as well as the low complexity of navigating airspace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Hamilton is hopeful that in the coming years, they will move beyond just blood delivery and will include other essential and lifesaving medicines as well. He added, he believes in expanding across Rwanda, Africa and the whole wide world. I hope that Zipline will introduce medical drones in many more countries; and more developing countries will follow Rwanda’s lead in cooperating with the start-up!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"580\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fzipline-final-assembly-1.jpg\" alt=\"Zipline medical drone - Medical Drones\" class=\"wp-image-14780\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fzipline-final-assembly-1.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fzipline-final-assembly-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fzipline-final-assembly-1-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fzipline-final-assembly-1-375x250.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Be careful, transporting blood and antivenin for snake bites!\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Cornelius Thiels, a general surgery resident at Mayo Clinic’s campus in Rochester, Minnesota, thinks medical professionals will eventually put drones in practice to transport blood products to critical access hospitals, mass casualty scenes and even offshore ships with seriously injured passengers. The small flying vehicles might also be used for the transport of expensive and rarely used drugs, such as antivenin for snake bites.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>After its Rwandan success, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2016\u002F8\u002F2\u002F12350274\u002Fzipline-drone-delivery-us-launch-blood-medicine\">the White House reached out to Zipline\u003C\u002Fa>. They expressed interest in delivering medicine and blood to rural parts of the US. Thus, the start-up announced in August that it brings its system to rural and remote communities in Maryland, Nevada, and Washington, including some Native American reservations. But Zipline is certainly not without competitors. The world’s largest shipping company, UPS also started to develop its drone-fleet. In 2016, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.popsci.com\u002Fups-tests-drone-deliveries-to-island\">it tested the delivery of medicine from Beverly to Children’s Island\u003C\u002Fa>. It is about three miles off the Atlantic coast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In Australia, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fmashable.com\u002F2016\u002F10\u002F31\u002Fangel-drone-blood-transplants\u002F#vt4ss7Igyaqc\">a consortium aims even higher\u003C\u002Fa>. Their plan is to develop a system for drones being able to deliver blood and heart or other organ transplants to isolated parts of the country. They promise the launch of test flights next year. I’m curious how it will go!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fplugins\u002Fvideo.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmedicalfuturist%2Fvideos%2F1311048482323117%2F&show_text=0&width=560\" width=\"560\" height=\"500\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Is the limit for drones the sky full of stars?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I don’t think so. Currently, the technology as well as the above-mentioned regulatory restrictions set back the widespread use of drones in healthcare. The small aircraft can carry a 5-pound payload for 30 to 60 minutes of flight time. They have a range of about 20 to 60 miles. These features are quite limiting. Drones usually can sense and avoid obstacles, but it could certainly endure some more development. Until they are not fully automatic, regulators will definitely remain reluctant to allow them to fly around in the air space even with control beyond eyesight (\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2016\u002F12\u002F14\u002F13952240\u002Famazon-drone-delivery-launch-uk\">the UK is a refreshing exception\u003C\u002Fa>).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Safety, accuracy and speed is even more important in healthcare since there are lives at stake! Not to mention special equipment for the transport of medical samples, blood or organs. For example, in the case of blood transport, coolers would be required to keep blood products at the proper temperature. Blood would also need to be packaged to prevent inadvertent exposure or tampering during transit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"580\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fflock-of-drones.jpg\" alt=\"Flock of Drones - Medical Drones\" class=\"wp-image-14734\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fflock-of-drones.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fflock-of-drones-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fflock-of-drones-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fflock-of-drones-375x250.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And of course, drones flying around like a flock of angry birds does not improve the sense of security of people. We are not used to such sight. We might need more time to get accustomed to drones and their capabilities. But these unmanned vehicles are great examples of how a technology from another industry could facilitate providing care especially in emergency and underdeveloped regions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fthemedicalfuturist.us8.list-manage.com\u002Fsubscribe?u=5b42ebb547c75ff669a6572d3&id=efd6a3cd08\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.google.com\u002Furl?q=https:\u002F\u002Fthemedicalfuturist.us8.list-manage.com\u002Fsubscribe?u%3D5b42ebb547c75ff669a6572d3%26id%3Defd6a3cd08&source=gmail&ust=1533905489195000&usg=AFQjCNHUJqcWO3Q6NY-CAB79u_3w3GjHZQ\">\u003Cb>Subscribe To The Medical Futurist℠ Newsletter\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\u003Cli>News shaping the future of healthcare\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Advice on taking charge of your health\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Reviews of the latest health technology\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":215,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>Time is crucial in healing, no matter whether it’s about a natural disaster, heart attack or an organ transplant. In future medical emergencies, where urgent response will be necessary, drones will mean the fastest answer. They will fly the extra mile in delivering drugs, vaccines, blood or organs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",14741,{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[31,219],494,[221,222,38,223,224,225,226,227,228,229,230],425,517,615,216,616,246,617,247,289,313,[],[],[234,59,235,60],2877,1729,[237,14,65,66,67,68,69,70,238,239,240,76,241,242,243,244,245,246,247,248],"post-14723","category-telemedicine","tag-technology-2","tag-gc1","tag-drone-delivery","tag-drone","tag-disaster-relief","tag-future","tag-emergency","tag-future-of-medicine","tag-innovation","tag-medicine",{"id":216,"alt_text":250,"caption":27,"description":27,"media_type":91,"media_details":251,"post":143,"source_url":278},"Drones in Medicine",{"width":93,"height":252,"file":253,"sizes":254,"image_meta":276},368,"2017\u002F01\u002Fmedical-drones.jpg",{"medium":255,"large":259,"thumbnail":263,"medium_large":266,"large_old_512x217":267,"medium_old_458x194":271},{"file":256,"width":99,"height":100,"mime-type":257,"source_url":258},"medical-drones-370x208.jpg","image\u002Fjpeg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fmedical-drones-370x208.jpg",{"file":260,"width":105,"height":261,"mime-type":257,"source_url":262},"medical-drones-768x325.jpg",325,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fmedical-drones-768x325.jpg",{"file":264,"width":110,"height":110,"mime-type":257,"source_url":265},"medical-drones-150x150.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fmedical-drones-150x150.jpg",{"file":260,"width":105,"height":261,"mime-type":257,"source_url":262},{"file":268,"width":115,"height":269,"mime-type":257,"source_url":270},"medical-drones-512x217.jpg",217,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fmedical-drones-512x217.jpg",{"file":272,"width":273,"height":274,"mime-type":257,"source_url":275},"medical-drones-458x194.jpg",458,194,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fmedical-drones-458x194.jpg",{"aperture":132,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":132,"copyright":27,"focal_length":132,"iso":132,"shutter_speed":132,"title":27,"orientation":132,"keywords":277},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F01\u002Fmedical-drones.jpg",{"related_posts":20,"related_posts_footer":20,"cta_type":27,"cta_color":27,"subtitle":27,"related_books":20},{"yoast_wpseo_title":281,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":282,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":209},"Medical Drones Will Thrive in Healthcare: A Safe Road to Health - The Medical Futurist","Medical drones will thrive in the future. They will fly the extra mile in delivering drugs, vaccines, blood or organs wherever they are needed.",{"self":284,"collection":289,"about":291,"author":293,"replies":295,"version-history":298,"predecessor-version":302,"wp:featuredmedia":306,"wp:attachment":309,"wp:term":312,"curies":323},[285],{"href":286,"targetHints":287},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F14723",{"allow":288},[153],[290],{"href":156},[292],{"href":159},[294],{"embeddable":26,"href":162},[296],{"embeddable":26,"href":297},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=14723",[299],{"count":300,"href":301},28,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F14723\u002Frevisions",[303],{"id":304,"href":305},46041,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F14723\u002Frevisions\u002F46041",[307],{"embeddable":26,"href":308},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F14741",[310],{"href":311},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=14723",[313,315,317,319,321],{"taxonomy":182,"embeddable":26,"href":314},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=14723",{"taxonomy":185,"embeddable":26,"href":316},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=14723",{"taxonomy":188,"embeddable":26,"href":318},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=14723",{"taxonomy":191,"embeddable":26,"href":320},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=14723",{"taxonomy":194,"embeddable":26,"href":322},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=14723",[324],{"name":198,"href":199,"templated":26},[],1788949269065]