Rwanda has become the first country in Africa to implement a nationwide autonomous health drone delivery system after signing a $150 million expansion agreement with logistics company Zipline.

The partnership builds on Rwanda's pioneering launch of Zipline's medical drone service in 2016, extending rapid, quiet, and precise deliveries to urban environments.

The drones will deliver vaccines, essential medicines, and blood supplies, strengthening access to life-saving healthcare across both urban and rural communities.

Zipline Africa CEO Caitlin Burton said Rwanda's leadership has once again set a global benchmark for innovation-driven healthcare.

"In 2016, Rwanda made a decision that changed health access forever. Rwanda did not ask whether it had been done before. It asked whether it could work and whether it could save lives. They tested it, measured it, and when the data proved the impact, they scaled it. Today, Rwanda is doing it again. This is a global first, not because the technology exists, but because the leadership exists. This partnership is setting a new global standard for how innovation should be deployed," Burton said.

Zipline Rwanda Country Director Pierre Kayitana said previous engagement with the company has demonstrated strong reliability, rapid response times, and reduced medical waste, providing a solid foundation for nationwide expansion.

The drone delivery system will be fully integrated into Rwanda’s public healthcare network, enabling on-demand deliveries of vaccines, medicines, and blood to health facilities across the country.

Rwanda's Minister of Information Communication Technology and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, welcomed the expansion, saying it will extend the benefits of drone delivery to more communities, including urban centers.

"Rwanda and Zipline have been working together for years to harness technology for the good of our people. We have witnessed the extraordinary impact of drone delivery, saving time, money, and lives. With this partnership, we will now expand to urban delivery, bringing these benefits to even more communities. We thank the US Government for supporting Zipline’s expansion and for joining us in building the foundation for Africa’s future in healthcare and innovation," Ingabire said.

The expansion will be supported by a new Zipline distribution center in Karongi District, expected to serve approximately 2.9 million people and reach more than 200 health posts and 60 hospitals nationwide. This is in addition to the existing distribution centers in Muhanga and Kayonza.

Story compiled with assistance from wire reports