The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has published study findings from its i-DRONE initiative demonstrating significant improvements in tuberculosis diagnosis efficiency through drone-assisted transport of sputum samples. The research, conducted in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district of Telangana in collaboration with AIIMS Bibinagar and the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), showed that 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 decreasing from approximately ₹9,451 to just ₹91, representing a 99% reduction in patient costs. This technological intervention specifically benefits remote and hard-to-reach areas by improving timely access to TB diagnostic services. The findings were formally presented to the Rajya Sabha by the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel, on August 4, 2026.