New Delhi: A study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has found that using drones to transport tuberculosis (TB) sputum samples can significantly reduce diagnosis time and patient expenses in remote areas, highlighting the technology’s potential to improve healthcare delivery in difficult-to-reach regions.
Conducted under the ICMR’s i-DRONE initiative in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district of Telangana, the study was carried out in collaboration with AIIMS Bibinagar and the District TB Office under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP).
The programme compared the conventional system, where patients travelled to TB diagnostic centres, with a drone-enabled model in which sputum samples were collected at nearby Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and sub-centres before being flown to designated diagnostic laboratories.
The study, involving 840 participants, found that the median turnaround time for TB diagnosis dropped from 15 days to just five days after the introduction of drone-based sample transport, enabling quicker diagnosis and earlier treatment.
Researchers also reported a sharp decline in patients’ out-of-pocket expenses. The average cost of obtaining a TB diagnosis fell from about ₹9,451 to nearly ₹91, mainly due to reduced travel costs, lower wage losses and easier access to nearby sample collection centres. The median out-of-pocket expenditure during the drone phase was zero, indicating that many patients incurred no travel-related costs.
The drone network linked 11 Primary Health Centres, 60 sub-centres and four TB Units, allowing patients to submit samples closer to their homes instead of travelling long distances to diagnostic facilities.
ICMR Director General and Secretary, Department of Health Research, Dr Rajiv Bahl, said the findings demonstrate how technology can help overcome geographical barriers, improve timely access to diagnosis and reduce the financial burden on patients, particularly in underserved areas.
Healthcare workers involved in the study also reported improved operational efficiency and community acceptance of the drone-based system, although researchers noted that weather conditions, payload capacity and continued training remain important considerations for wider deployment.
The study adds to the growing evidence under the i-DRONE initiative, which is exploring the use of drones for transporting vaccines, medicines, blood products and diagnostic samples to strengthen healthcare delivery across remote and geographically challenging regions of the country.
