ICMR’s i-DRONE helped reduce TB diagnosis time from 15 days to 5 days in rural Telangana. It also cut patients’ average expenses from ₹9,451 to ₹91.
- i-DRONE reduced TB diagnosis time from 15 days to 5 days
- Patient expenses dropped from ₹9,451 to just ₹91
- i-DRONE improved access to TB testing in remote communities
Reaching a tuberculosis (TB) testing center can take days for people living in remote parts of India. A new Indian study shows that using drones to transport sputum samples can shorten diagnosis time from 15 days to just 5 days, while almost eliminating travel expenses for many patients (1✔ ✔Trusted Source
Drone-based sputum transport for TB diagnosis in remote communities
)(2✔ ✔Trusted Source
Feasibility of drone-based sputum sample and medicine transport for tuberculosis diagnosis in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri District of Telangana, India: A qualitative study
).
The findings come from the Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) flagship i-DRONE initiative, which tested drone-assisted sample transport in Telangana.
Besides speeding up diagnosis, the project reduced patients’ average out-of-pocket costs from ₹9,451 to around ₹91, highlighting how technology can make TB care faster, more affordable, and accessible (3✔ ✔Trusted Source
ICMR study finds drone-enabled TB sample transport can reduce diagnosis time and patient expenses in remote Telangana
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the project was carried out in collaboration with AIIMS Bibinagar and the District TB Office under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP).
Advertisement
Can Drones Help India Diagnose TB Faster?
Tuberculosis remains one of India’s biggest infectious disease challenges, especially in rural and geographically difficult regions where patients often travel long distances simply to submit a sputum sample for testing.
Poor transport links, lost daily wages, and repeated visits to health facilities can delay diagnosis and treatment, increasing the risk of disease transmission.
To address this gap, ICMR launched the i-DRONE (ICMR’s Drone Response and Outreach Network) initiative to explore whether drones could safely transport medical supplies and diagnostic samples across difficult terrains.
While earlier phases of the program focused on
The program enrolled 840 participants from the Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district of Telangana.
Researchers compared the conventional system, where patients traveled to TB diagnostic centers, with a drone-enabled model that transported
The results showed a dramatic improvement in diagnosis timelines. The median turnaround time fell from 15 days to 5 days, while the average turnaround time declined from 16.6 days to 6.9 days.
Diagnostic delays were also significantly reduced, allowing doctors to confirm tuberculosis earlier and begin treatment sooner.
Another major benefit was the reduction in financial burden. Average out-of-pocket expenditure dropped from nearly ₹9,451 to about ₹91, mainly because patients no longer needed to travel repeatedly to distant diagnostic centers.
During the drone phase, the median patient expenditure was zero, meaning many participants spent nothing on travel for diagnosis.
Advertisement
How Did the i-DRONE Project Work?
Instead of asking patients to travel long distances with sputum samples, the researchers redesigned the diagnostic pathway. Patients submitted samples at their nearest health facility, while drones handled the transport to TB laboratories. This reduced travel for patients and sped up diagnosis.
The i-DRONE workflow included:
- Local Sample Collection: Patients visited their nearest Primary Health Centre (PHC) or subcenter, where sputum samples were collected.
- Hub-and-Spoke Network: The project connected 11 primary health centers, 60 sub-centers, and 4 Tuberculosis Units across the Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district.
- Drone Transport: Drones carried sputum samples from peripheral health facilities to TB diagnostic laboratories.
- Central Coordination: A command center at AIIMS Bibinagar managed flight schedules, monitored operations, and ensured safe sample transport.
- Safe Flight Planning: Flight routes were planned based on terrain, population density and aviation safety requirements.
Rather than replacing existing healthcare services, the drone network complemented them by solving one of the biggest barriers in rural healthcare—the transport of diagnostic samples from remote villages to laboratories.
Researchers believe this approach could strengthen India’s TB elimination strategy, particularly in districts with difficult terrain, poor road connectivity, and long travel distances.
The Telangana project also built on earlier i-DRONE initiatives. Before this study, drones successfully transported vaccines, blood products, medicines, and diagnostic samples in Manipur and Nagaland, proving their value in remote regions with limited road access.
The program was later expanded to Himachal Pradesh to evaluate drone-based healthcare logistics in the Himalayan terrain (4✔ ✔Trusted Source
Implementation of drone based delivery of medical supplies in North-East India: experiences, challenges and adopted strategies
Go to source)(5✔ ✔Trusted Source
Drone-based medical delivery in the extreme conditions of Himalayan
region: a feasibility study
Advertisement
Why Did Patients Spend Almost Nothing on TB Diagnosis?
Before the i-DRONE project, many patients had to travel long distances for TB testing, leading to high expenses and delays. The drone-enabled system brought sample collection closer to home, making diagnosis faster, cheaper, and more accessible.
| Before i-DRONE | After i-DRONE |
|---|---|
| Patients traveled to distant TB diagnostic centers. | Patients submitted sputum samples at nearby PHCs or subcenters. |
| Families spent on transport, food, and sometimes accommodation. | Drones transported samples to TB laboratories, reducing travel costs. |
| Patients often lost daily wages while making repeated visits. | Fewer hospital visits meant lower wage loss and less financial burden. |
| Long travel delayed diagnosis and treatment. | Faster sample transport helped shorten diagnosis time and start treatment earlier. |
| Distance, travel costs, and stigma discouraged timely testing. | Easier access encouraged earlier diagnosis and improved healthcare access. |
Researchers also found that reducing delays in diagnosis can help lower community transmission by enabling treatment to begin earlier, according to IJTLD Open.
Strengthening diagnostic logistics through drone technology could also improve health equity by making TB services more accessible for people living in remote and underserved communities (6✔ ✔Trusted Source
Drone-based sputum transport for TB diagnosis in remote communities
What Did Healthcare Workers Learn from the Drone Project?
Researchers also evaluated how well drone-assisted healthcare could fit into India’s public health system.
The qualitative study included 101 stakeholders, 28 in-depth interviews, and 12 focus group discussions, assessing the program’s acceptability, demand, practicality, implementation, and integration.
Healthcare workers said the drones reduced delays, improved coordination between health facilities and laboratories, and made TB services more accessible in remote villages. However, they also identified a few challenges.
Key lessons from healthcare workers
- Community awareness: Initial concerns about drones, privacy, and stigma.
- Weather: Rain and strong winds sometimes delayed flights.
- Payload: Limited carrying capacity.
- Training: Regular staff training is essential.
- Coordination: Better collaboration between health and aviation authorities.
Overall, the researchers found the drone model feasible and well accepted but said awareness, training, and operational planning will be key for nationwide expansion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is i-DRONE?
A: i-DRONE is an ICMR initiative that uses drones to transport medical supplies and diagnostic samples to remote areas.
Q: How much faster was TB diagnosis with i-DRONE?
A: The project reduced the median diagnosis time from 15 days to just 5 days.
Q: How did i-DRONE reduce patient costs?
A: Patients submitted samples at nearby health centres instead of travelling long distances, reducing transport and wage losses.
Q: Where was the i-DRONE TB study conducted?
A: The pilot project was carried out in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district of Telangana.
Q: Can drones be used for other healthcare services?
A: Yes. Earlier i-DRONE projects have transported vaccines, medicines, blood products and diagnostic samples in remote parts of India.
References:
- Drone-based sputum transport for TB diagnosis in remote communities – (https://journals.theunion.org/content/ijtldo/3/2/70.abstract)
- Feasibility of drone-based sputum sample and medicine transport for tuberculosis diagnosis in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri District of Telangana, India: A qualitative study – (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20552076251406320)
- ICMR study finds drone-enabled TB sample transport can reduce diagnosis time and patient expenses in remote Telangana – (https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2285227®=6&lang=1)
- Implementation of drone based delivery of medical supplies in North-East India: experiences, challenges and adopted strategies – (https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1128886/full)
- Drone-based medical delivery in the extreme conditions of Himalayan
region: a feasibility study – (https://idrone.icmr.org.in/media/uploads/2025/Keylong_paper.pdf) - Drone-based sputum transport for TB diagnosis in remote communities – (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12991481/)
Source-Medindia