ICMR study finds drone-enabled TB sample transport can reduce diagnosis time and patient expenses in remote Telangana

A programme‑based study by ICMR’s i‑DRONE initiative in Yadadri‑Bhuvanagiri district, Telangana, involving 840 participants, compared conventional patient travel with drone‑enabled transport of TB sputum samples from 11 PHCs and 60 sub‑centres to four TB Units. The median turnaround time for diagnosis fell from 15 days to 5 days. Mean out‑of‑pocket expenditure dropped from about ₹9,451 to ₹91, with the median OOPE during the drone phase being zero. Healthcare workers reported reduced delays and better operational efficiency, while noting operational considerations such as weather, payload limits and training needs. The study provides evidence for scaling drone logistics in remote healthcare delivery.