ICMR study finds drone transport halves TB diagnosis time, cuts patient costs in Telangana
New Delhi/ Hyderabad, July 16 (TNT): The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has found that drone-assisted transportation of tuberculosis (TB) sputum samples can significantly reduce diagnostic delays and out-of-pocket expenditure for patients living in remote and underserved areas.
The findings are based on a programme-based study conducted under ICMR’s flagship i-DRONE initiative in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district of Telangana, in collaboration with AIIMS Bibinagar and the District TB Office under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP).
The study 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 and transported by drones to TB diagnostic laboratories.
The study, involving 840 participants, found that the median turnaround time for TB diagnosis declined from 15 days to five days after the introduction of drone-based sample transportation, enabling earlier diagnosis and treatment.
The intervention also led to a sharp reduction in patients’ financial burden.
The average out-of-pocket expenditure for obtaining a TB diagnosis dropped from about ₹9,451 under the conventional system to around ₹91 during the drone-enabled phase.
Researchers attributed the reduction to lower travel costs, reduced wage loss and the availability of sputum collection facilities closer to patients’ homes.
The median out-of-pocket expenditure during the drone phase was zero, indicating that many patients incurred no travel-related expenses.
The project was implemented through a hub-and-spoke network connecting 11 Primary Health Centres, 60 sub-centres and four TB Units, allowing patients to submit sputum samples at nearby health facilities instead of travelling long distances.
ICMR Director General and Secretary, Department of Health Research, Dr. Rajiv Bahl, said timely and affordable diagnosis remains central to India’s TB elimination efforts and the study demonstrates how technology can help overcome geographical barriers while reducing the burden on patients.
Healthcare workers associated with the project reported improved operational efficiency and quicker sample transportation, while communities readily accepted the drone-enabled service after initial familiarisation.
The researchers noted that the study was conducted in a single district and provides operational evidence on the role of drone-enabled logistics in strengthening healthcare delivery. They said wider implementation across different geographical settings would help generate further evidence for policy decisions.
According to ICMR, the study adds to the growing evidence generated under the i-DRONE initiative, which is evaluating the use of drones for transporting vaccines, medicines, blood products, diagnostic samples and other medical supplies to improve healthcare access in difficult terrains across the country.
TNT TS
