ICMR Study on Drone-Enabled TB Sample Transport in Telangana
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under its i-DRONE initiative has published a program-based study demonstrating the effectiveness of drone technology for transporting tuberculosis sputum samples in remote areas. The research was conducted 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 conventional patient travel for TB diagnosis with a drone-enabled model where sputum samples were collected at nearby Primary Health Centres and sub-centres and transported by drones to designated TB diagnostic laboratories. The intervention enrolled 840 participants and established a hub-and-spoke network connecting 11 Primary Health Centres, 60 sub-centres, and four TB Units.
Key quantitative findings show a dramatic reduction in diagnosis turnaround time, with the median time decreasing from 15 days under the conventional system to just 5 days using drone transport. This reduction significantly decreased diagnostic delays, enabling earlier disease confirmation and faster clinical decision-making.
The financial impact on patients was substantial, with mean out-of-pocket expenditure for TB diagnosis reducing from approximately ₹9,451 under the conventional system to around ₹91 during the drone-enabled phase. The median out-of-pocket expenditure during the drone phase was zero, indicating many participants incurred no travel-related expenses. This reduction was attributed to lower travel costs, reduced wage loss, and the availability of sputum collection closer to patients' homes.
Healthcare workers reported that drone-enabled transport reduced delays, improved operational efficiency, and was well accepted by communities after initial familiarization. The study also identified operational considerations including weather limitations, payload constraints, and the need for continued training, emphasizing the importance of careful planning for wider implementation.
Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary of the Department of Health Research and Director General of ICMR, stated that affordable and timely access to diagnosis remains central to India's TB elimination efforts, and this study demonstrates how technology can help bridge geographical barriers and reduce patient burden in remote areas.
The researchers note that findings are based on program implementation in one district and provide important operational evidence for evaluating drone-enabled logistics in healthcare delivery for geographically challenging settings. Further implementation across diverse settings will help build additional evidence for informed decision-making.