The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has published breakthrough findings from its i-DRONE initiative demonstrating significant improvements in tuberculosis diagnosis efficiency through drone-assisted sample transport. 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 – a 67% reduction in diagnostic time.
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 99% reduction in patient costs. This technological innovation specifically benefits remote and hard-to-reach areas where traditional sample transport methods face logistical challenges.
The findings were formally presented by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Smt. Anupriya Patel in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on August 4, 2026. The study demonstrates how drone technology can significantly improve timely access to TB diagnostic services while dramatically reducing the financial burden on patients in underserved regions.