Drones cut TB diagnosis time

Metro India News | New Delhi 

A study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has found that using drones to transport sputum samples from remote health centres to diagnostic laboratories can reduce tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis time from 15 days to just five, while dramatically lowering patients' expenses.

Conducted under the ICMR's flagship i-DRONE initiative in Telangana's Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district, the programme enrolled 840 participants. Researchers assessed a drone-enabled system that transported sputum samples from primary health centres and sub-centres to TB diagnostic laboratories.

The study found that the average out-of-pocket cost for TB diagnosis dropped from about Rs 9,451 under the conventional system to around Rs 91 with drone-enabled transport. Many patients incurred no travel expenses, as sputum samples could be collected at nearby health facilities instead of requiring long journeys to diagnostic centres. The intervention connected 11 primary health centres, 60 sub-centres and four TB units through a hub-and-spoke network, improving access to timely diagnosis.

ICMR Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl said affordable and timely diagnosis is crucial for India's TB elimination efforts, adding that technology can help overcome geographical barriers and reduce the burden on patients in remote areas. Researchers noted challenges such as weather conditions, payload limits and the need for continued training before wider implementation.