Health authorities in the Western North Region have announced the temporary suspension of medical drone delivery services by Zipline at its Sefwi Wiawso Distribution Centre, effective Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
The decision, officially communicated by the Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service, follows formal notification from Fly Zipline Ghana Limited indicating its intention to halt operations at the facility.
In a directive dated November 24 and addressed to all municipal and district directors of health services, medical superintendents, and administrators of Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) facilities in the region, the directorate outlined immediate steps to mitigate any potential disruption to healthcare delivery.
According to the notice, all districts with vaccines stored at the Zipline facility have been instructed to retrieve their supplies without delay. Health officials have also been directed to strictly observe cold-chain protocols to ensure vaccines remain safe and potent throughout the retrieval process while maintaining accurate accountability records.
District hospitals have further been cautioned to ensure the constant availability of blood and blood products, in anticipation of any supply challenges arising from the suspension of drone services.
As part of interim measures, the Regional Health Directorate has also released emergency quantities of anti-rabies vaccines and anti-snake venom to district hospitals across the region to minimise the risk of critical shortages.
The Regional Director of Health Services for Western North, Dr Paulina Clara Appiah, who signed the notice, appealed for cooperation from all health facilities to ensure smooth implementation of the contingency measures.
The Zipline service has been a key component of emergency medical logistics in rural Ghana, delivering critical supplies such as vaccines, blood and essential medicines to hard-to-reach communities within minutes.
