MALAWI — Wingcopter, a provider of drone delivery systems solutions, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Siemens Healthineers.
Under this partnership, Wingcopter’s drone delivery system will be utilized by Siemens to enhance diagnostics and expedite treatment in rural communities in Africa.
The collaboration aims to establish an integrated drone delivery solution for healthcare facilities across Africa, enabling two-way transportation of blood samples, vaccines, and pharmaceuticals.
This system will enhance access to sample analysis, expedite diagnosis, and facilitate faster treatment in rural communities.
Wingcopter’s successful trial runs in Malawi, where it partnered with government organizations to deliver medicines and supplies to hard-to-reach rural areas, serve as the foundation for this project.
The battery-powered drones, operated by Wingcopter, will cover distances of up to 75 kilometers while ensuring the cold chain is maintained.
These sustainable and efficient drone delivery networks will centralize sample testing and distribution of medical consumables, resulting in improved access to diagnosis, faster turnaround times, increased efficiency, and cost reduction.
Wingcopter, founded in 2017 by Tom Plummer, Jonathan Hesselbarth, and Ansgar Kadura, specializes in the manufacturing and operation of unmanned drones, with a focus on delivering medical goods, parcels, and food.
In 2021, Wingcopter raised US$22 million in Series A funding, capitalizing on the surge in contactless deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the European Investment Bank (EIB) invested US$42.75 million this year to support Wingcopter’s ambitious plan to scale up its cargo drones.
Ole Maloy, MD of Siemens Healthineers in the Middle East, Southern, and Eastern Africa, expressed that their partnership with Wingcopter aims to bridge gaps in healthcare infrastructure, ensuring equitable and affordable access to diagnostic testing and medical supplies.
Tom Plümmer, CEO and Co-founder of Wingcopter, stated that the collaboration with Siemens Healthineers brings them closer to their goal of making a real social impact worldwide through fast, reliable, and sustainable drone delivery networks in the sky, particularly for those who need it most.
Drone-based transportation solution for medical supplies in Africa
In March 2023, Zipline unveiled its new platform that provides a quiet, fast, and precise autonomous delivery system using drones.
The drone delivery startup has already gained ground in Rwanda, Ghana, and parts of Nigeria.
Since 2021, the Ugandan Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Johnson and Johnson Corporation, has been using drones to deliver HIV treatments to the people of the Kalangala islands.
EcoSoar drones, developed and operated locally in Malawi by the Unmanned Systems Lab, are used for remote medicine delivery and remote sensing purposes.
Kofi Kafui, a Technology Expert with Inovux Consult, stated that the drone health delivery system has made it easier to reach remote communities where access to healthcare was a challenge.
Kafui noted that the drone delivery system overcomes challenges such as inaccessible roads and flooding.
Moreover, the technology utilizes existing GPS coordinates to ensure that commodities are delivered near the specified locations.
He also added that drone delivery technology is more efficient at tracking inventory, reducing errors in data capture and management.
According to a report from the World Bank, roughly half of the world’s population still lacks access to essential health services, including timely diagnostic services.
In addition to increasing accessibility for diagnostic testing, the drone delivery solution will have a positive impact on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including improving access to health services, reducing carbon footprint, minimizing the risk of road accidents, and capacity building in drone operations.
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