The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)’s drone-assisted transport of sputum samples for tuberculosis (TB) initiative has significantly improved access to diagnostic services, reducing the average time needed to diagnose TB from 15 days to five days for people living in remote and underserved areas, a study has found.
An evaluation of its pioneering i-DRONE initiative also showed a significant reduction in patients’ out-of-pocket spending on transportation.
These findings emerged from a program-based study conducted in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district of Telangana in collaboration with AIIMS Bibinagar and the TB District Office under the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP). The study compared the traditional system of patient travel for TB diagnosis with a drone-enabled model where sputum samples were collected at nearby primary health centers (PHCs) and sub-centers (SCs) and transported by drones to designated TB diagnostic laboratories (TUs).
The study included 840 participants and found that the average time to diagnose TB decreased from 15 days to five days after the introduction of sample transport using drones.
The delay in diagnosis has also reduced significantly, enabling early confirmation of the disease and facilitating faster clinical decision-making, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a statement.
In addition, the study noted a significant reduction in the financial burden on patients. The average out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) associated with seeking a TB diagnosis decreased from approx $9,451 under the conventional transportation system to approx $91 during the drone enablement phase.
“The decrease was largely attributable to lower travel costs, lower wage loss, and the availability of sputum collection near patients’ homes. Notably, the average OOPE during the drone phase was zero, indicating that many participants did not incur any travel-related expenses for diagnosis,” the statement read.
The intervention was implemented through a hub network linking 11 primary health care centres, 60 sub-centres and four TB units, allowing patients to submit sputum samples at health facilities close to their villages instead of traveling long distances to diagnostic centres.
“Access to affordable and timely diagnosis remains a key component of TB elimination efforts in India. This study demonstrates how technology can help bridge geographical barriers and reduce the burden on patients, especially those living in remote areas. The evidence generated through the i-DRONE initiative will help inform future public health innovations while complementing existing healthcare delivery systems,” said Rajeev Bahl, Director General, ICMR and Secretary, Department of Health Research.
Beyond the quantitative results, healthcare workers participating in the study reported that drone-based transportation reduced delays, improved operational efficiency, and was well accepted by communities after initial recognition. The study also identified operational considerations such as weather, payload limitations and the need for ongoing training, underscoring the importance of careful planning for wider implementation.
Experts working in this field also pointed out that although there are benefits to deploying this technology, there are some challenges associated with i-DRONE.
“The biggest opportunity is to integrate drone technology with existing primary healthcare systems so that it supports doctors, diagnostics and community healthcare providers,” said Smriti Tandon, co-founder of Salubrious Technology, which is working to solve last-mile healthcare access. “The challenge is that rapid transit alone cannot improve outcomes unless patients are identified early, referred appropriately and connected to eligible medical care through a coordinated healthcare ecosystem.”
“TB diagnosis under government protocols follows a structured clinical pathway. Drone technology can significantly reduce the time it takes to transport samples, but its greatest impact will come when it strengthens the already well-coordinated diagnosis and referral system.”
