Member of Parliament for Lambussie, Prof. Titus Beyuo, has urged the government to prioritise local blood banks over the Zipline drone delivery service for nationwide blood distribution.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Tuesday, December 2, he argued that funds currently spent on Zipline could be better used to equip district hospitals with blood storage facilities, enabling donations to be collected and distributed locally.
“This money, if given to the National Blood Service, could set up blood bank services across all districts. Blood could be stored locally and used where it is needed, rather than spending on drones to fly non-emergency items like condoms,” Beyuo said.
He criticised Zipline for straying from its original mandate of emergency deliveries, noting that routine distribution of non-critical items could be handled through Ghana’s existing supply chain.
Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has confirmed that Zipline has been transporting a wide range of non-emergency items, including condoms, mosquito nets, blood-donor cards, food and nutrition supplies, syringes and needles, as well as educational materials such as textbooks and uniforms.
The MP insists that a shift toward strengthening local blood bank infrastructure would ensure timely access to blood while making more efficient use of public funds.
