Drone technology expands into healthcare infrastructure and commercial delivery

Drone technology is rapidly expanding its role in both healthcare logistics and commercial delivery sectors. In Ghana, Zipline has operated since 2019, advocating for drone logistics to be recognized as national infrastructure. The company utilizes a “pull system” where facilities request supplies based on actual demand rather than forecasts, reducing wastage of critical items like anti-snake venom. Research in the Ashanti Region indicated a 56.4 percent reduction in maternal mortality at facilities served by Zipline.

In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is working to advance the commercialization of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) through updated regulations for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights. Commercial drone delivery is scaling, with companies like Amazon Prime Air, DoorDash, and Wing operating in various regions. A study by PwC suggests that small commercial drone flights for e-commerce and prescriptions could exceed 242 million in North America by 2034, with a delivery value surpassing $15 billion.