**Executive Summary**
The ICMR, under its i-DRONE initiative, conducted a study in Telangana’s Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district to evaluate drone-assisted TB sputum sample transport. The research, published on July 16, 2026, demonstrates that drone technology significantly reduces diagnosis turnaround times and eliminates the financial burden on patients in remote areas. These findings serve as evidence to inform future public health innovations and the potential expansion of drone logistics for various medical supplies.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Study Overview and Methodology**
* **Collaborative Effort:** The study was conducted by ICMR in collaboration with AIIMS Bibinagar and the District TB Office under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP).
* **Hub-and-Spoke Model:** The intervention utilized a network connecting 11 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), 60 sub-centres (SCs), and four TB Units (TUs).
* **Sample Transport:** Sputum samples were collected at local health facilities and transported via drones to diagnostic laboratories, replacing the conventional system of patient travel.
**Efficiency and Diagnostic Timelines**
* **Reduced Turnaround Time:** The median time for TB diagnosis decreased from 15 days under the conventional system to 5 days using drones.
* **Faster Clinical Decisions:** Significant reductions in diagnostic delays enabled earlier confirmation of the disease and accelerated clinical decision-making.
**Financial Impact on Patients**
* **Cost Reduction:** The mean out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) for patients dropped from approximately ₹9,451 to around ₹91.
* **Elimination of Travel Expenses:** The median OOPE during the drone phase was zero, as patients submitted samples near their homes, avoiding travel costs and wage losses.
**Operational Considerations**
* **Acceptance:** Healthcare workers reported improved operational efficiency and high community acceptance following initial familiarization.
* **Challenges:** Wider implementation requires careful planning regarding weather conditions, payload limitations, and the necessity for continued training.
**Impact Analysis**
**Patients in Remote and Underserved Areas**
**Impact**
Patients experience a drastic reduction in diagnostic delays and nearly eliminate out-of-pocket expenses related to travel and lost wages.
**Action Required**
Submit sputum samples at nearby Primary Health Centres or sub-centres rather than traveling long distances to central diagnostic units.
**Healthcare Workers and Providers**
**Impact**
Staff benefit from improved operational efficiency and the ability to facilitate faster treatment for patients due to quicker results.
**Action Required**
Participate in continued training programs to manage drone-enabled logistics and familiarize communities with the technology.
**Public Health Authorities (ICMR/NTEP)**
**Impact**
The study provides a proven model for bridging geographical barriers in healthcare and supporting India’s TB elimination efforts.
**Action Required**
Evaluate the evidence to inform future public health innovations and plan for implementation across diverse and geographically challenging settings.
Key Entities Referenced
i-DRONE initiative: An ICMR flagship initiative focused on utilizing drone technology to transport medical supplies and diagnostic samples in difficult-to-reach areas.
National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP): The national health framework under which the study was conducted to improve TB diagnostic access and support India's tuberculosis eradication goals.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR): The primary research body that led the study demonstrating how drone-assisted transport reduces TB diagnosis time and patient out-of-pocket expenditure.
Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri, Telangana: The specific district and state central to the study, where a hub-and-spoke network of health centers was used to pilot drone-enabled sample transport.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
ICMR study finds drone-enabled TB sample
transport can reduce diagnosis time and patient
expenses in remote Telangana
Research under the ICMR’s i-DRONE initiative demonstrates
the potential of drone technology to strengthen access to TB
diagnostic services in difficult-to-reach areas
प्रव तथ: 16 JUL 2026 10:45AM by PIB Delhi
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), under its flagship i-DRONE initiative, has
demonstrated that drone-assisted transport of tuberculosis (TB) sputum samples can significantly improve
access to diagnostic services for people living in remote and underserved areas.
The findings emerge from a programme-based study conducted in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district of
Telangana in collaboration with AIIMS Bibinagar and the District TB Office under National TB
Elimination Programme (NTEP). The study compared the conventional system of patient travel for TB
diagnosis with a drone-enabled model in which sputum samples were collected at nearby Primary Health
Centres (PHCs) and sub-centres (SCs) and transported by drones to designated TB diagnostic laboratories
(TUs).
The study enrolled 840 participants and found that the median turnaround time for TB diagnosis decreased
from 15 days to 5 days following the introduction of drone-based sample transport. Diagnostic delays
were also significantly reduced, enabling earlier confirmation of disease and facilitating faster clinical
decision-making.
Importantly, the study observed a substantial reduction in the financial burden borne by patients. The
mean out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) associated with seeking TB diagnosis reduced from
approximately ₹9,451 under the conventional transport system to around ₹91 during the drone-enabled
phase. The reduction was largely attributable to lower travel costs, reduced wage loss, and the availability
of sputum collection closer to patients' homes. Notably, the median OOPE during the drone phase was
zero, indicating that many participants incurred no travel-related expenses for diagnosis. The intervention
was implemented through a hub-and-spoke network connecting 11 Primary Health Centres, 60 sub-centres
and four TB Units, allowing patients to submit sputum samples at health facilities nearer to their villages
instead of travelling long distances to diagnostic centres.
Speaking on the findings, Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research and Director General,
ICMR, said, "Affordable and timely access to diagnosis remains central to India's TB elimination efforts.
This study demonstrates how technology can help bridge geographical barriers and reduce the burden on
patients, particularly 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."Alongside the quantitative findings, healthcare workers participating in the study reported that drone-
enabled transport reduced delays, improved operational efficiency and was well accepted by communities
after initial familiarisation. The study also identified operational considerations such as weather, payload
limitations and the need for continued training, underscoring the importance of careful planning for wider
implementation.
The researchers have noted that the findings are based on programme implementation in one district and
provide important operational evidence for evaluating the role of drone-enabled logistics in strengthening
healthcare delivery in geographically challenging settings. Further implementation across diverse settings
will help build additional evidence for informed decision-making.
The study adds to the growing evidence generated under the ICMR i-DRONE initiative, which is
exploring the safe and effective use of drones for transporting vaccines, medicines, blood products,
diagnostic specimens, tissues etc. to improve healthcare access in difficult terrains across the country. The
full study may be accessed at: https://journals.theunion.org/content/ijtldo/3/2/70.abstract
Another publication about the study can be accessed at:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20552076251406320
***
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