The drones will be used to collect medical samples under a new deal to be implemented by ElsMed Healthcare Solutions of Israel to boost services at 138 health facilities in the county.
Top county officials and those from the Israeli firm visited Huruma Subcounty Hospital, which will be used as an operations base.
Health executive Sam Kotut said they are ready to roll out the project as healthcare is a priority in Governor Jonathan Bii’s plan for the county.
The drones to be used are 3m-long in size, 25kg in weight, have rechargeable batteries and can fly at night at 80km/hr when carrying capacity weight.
The drones are automatic, safe, have the ability to tolerate very strong winds and can be controlled on where to land.
The county is working with the the Kenya Civil Association Authority to acquire drone licenses and permits for the operations to begin formally.
Governor Bii has termed the move "historic" and a major step towards achieving his plan to improve the county's healthcare system.
ElsMed Healthcare Solutions CEO Yaron Ferachi said there was a need to enhance knowledge, equipment and diagnostics, affordable pharmaceuticals, managing the samples delivery and monitoring of sampling systems.
The introduction of the drones is part of the implementation of a Sh427 million MoU the county signed with the Israeli government to boost health services in the region.
The money will be used to finance health-related projects for 10 years.
The partnership follows a recent visit by Israeli Ambassador Michael Lotem to Uasin Gishu during which the envoy agreed to help finance several health projects in the region.
“We are grateful that our partnership with the Israeli team has brought us a major breakthrough in our plans to ensure that the people of Uasin Gishu enjoy quality medical services,” Bii said.
ElsMed will service and replace the equipment when obsolete. It will also provide consumables, reagents and other requirements at an affordable price.
"The county shall reinvent the finances generated by the project through the facility improvement of fund bill, which will ensure there is prompt payment of consumables,” Bii said.
Deputy Governor John Barorot said the healthcare milestone is in line with Governor Bii’s Nguzo Kumi manifesto, which includes improving health services in the region.
The partnership will enable Uasin Gishu District Hospital to receive most of the sophisticated equipment enhancing the digital transformation.
He said the project will help the county monitor the supply of drugs at its facilities.
The project will at first be implemented in 23 county health facilities but there are plans to expand it through further engagements.
Barorot said under the project, Uasin Gishu will make major strides in modernising its health services using the latest technology.
"We will be using drones to collect samples whenever sophisticated diagnostic equipment is required using the IT format," Barorot said.
Farachi said the deal would help save lives because the county would use the best technologies in responding to health complications.
