Cassiel Ato Forson
Chairman of the Health Committee of Parliament, Dr. Kwabena Twum-Nuamah, has debunked claims by Ato Forson, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) that the Akufo-Addo administration will spend about $1 million to use drones to distribute blood and other medicinal products to remote areas which will ordinarily cost the state about $100,000.
It would be recalled that on Monday, December 3, 2018, the NDC MP for Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam accused government, especially the Vice President, Dr. Mahamud Bawumia, of ‘fraudulently’ inflating the cost of the contract under which drones would be used to distribute blood and other medicinal products across Ghana as practised currently in Rwanda and other technologically advanced countries across the world.
Dr. Kwabena Twum-Nuamah, who was speaking on the issue on PM Express Show, on Tuesday, December 4, 2018, stated that the drone delivery service system would come at no cost to government.
He explained that per the agreement, the cost would be borne by the institutions through their corporate social responsibility.
Dr. Twum-Nuamah also debunked reports that the project is expensive and would cripple government’s budget.
According to him, the project cost per service delivery of $17 is lower than what is currently being charged in Rwanda ($22.7 per delivery).
He said that the delivery service would go a long way to save precious lives across Ghana, questioning Ato Forson’s credibility and understanding of the service agreement.
Ghana’s emergency medical drone delivery service is projected to save millions of Cedis by eliminating expensive emergency trips to pick health care products and avoid wasteful overstocking of products at health facilities.
It would operate 24 hours a day from four distribution centers across the country.
According to government, the distribution centers would stock 184 lifesaving and essential medical supplies.
By Melvin Tarlue