New Delhi, 16 July (H.S.):

The use of drones to transport sputum samples for tuberculosis (TB) testing has significantly reduced diagnostic turnaround time and almost eliminated patients' out-of-pocket expenses, according to a study conducted under the Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) drone initiative.

The study compared the conventional sample transportation system with a drone-based delivery model and was carried out in Telangana's Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district in collaboration with AIIMS Bibinagar and the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP). A total of 840 participants were included in the study.

According to the findings, the median time required for TB diagnosis fell from 15 days to just five days after the introduction of drone services. The average out-of-pocket expenditure for patients also dropped dramatically, from approximately ₹9,451 to just ₹91. During the drone-based intervention, most patients incurred no travel expenses for diagnostic testing.

Under the project, 11 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), 60 Sub-Health Centres and four TB units were integrated into the drone network. This enabled patients to submit sputum samples at their nearest health facility, from where drones transported the samples directly to diagnostic laboratories.

ICMR Director General and Secretary, Department of Health Research, Dr Rajiv Bahl, said timely and affordable diagnosis is critical to eliminating tuberculosis. He noted that the study demonstrates how modern technology can improve access to quality healthcare services for people living in remote and underserved regions.

The study also found that the use of drones made the work of healthcare personnel more efficient, while the local community responded positively to the new system. However, it highlighted challenges such as adverse weather conditions, the limited payload capacity of drones and the need for specialised staff training, which will require further attention.

According to ICMR, the findings are currently based on the experience of a single district. The council said similar studies across different geographical regions will help guide future decisions on expanding drone-based healthcare services across the country.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar