The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has published significant findings from its i-DRONE initiative demonstrating the effectiveness of drone-assisted transport for tuberculosis sputum samples in remote areas. According to a study conducted in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district of Telangana in collaboration with AIIMS Bibinagar and the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), the median turnaround time for TB diagnosis was reduced from 15 days to just 5 days using drone technology.
The financial impact on patients was even more dramatic, with mean out-of-pocket expenditure for TB diagnosis dropping from approximately ₹9,451 to merely ₹91, representing a cost reduction of over 99%. This technological intervention significantly improves timely access to TB diagnostic services in hard-to-reach areas.
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel presented these findings in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on August 4, 2026. The study represents a major advancement in healthcare delivery logistics and cost reduction for infectious disease diagnosis in India's remote regions.