Drone-based sputum transport for TB diagnosis in remote communities

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Medical Logistics
• Tuberculosis Diagnostics

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) remains a critical public health issue in India, exacerbated by persistent diagnostic delays.
• This study addresses the challenge of accessing timely TB diagnosis in remote areas of Telangana's Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of drone-based sputum transport on diagnostic turnaround time (TAT) for TB.
• To assess improvements in patient access to TB care and reductions in associated costs.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental mixed-methods study under the Indian Council of Medical Research's i-DRONE initiative.
• Comparison of pre-drone (ground transport) and drone-based sputum sample transport phases.
• Analysis of TAT, patient/diagnostic delays, and out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE); qualitative data from patient feedback and observations.

Main Results:

• Median TAT decreased from 15 days to 5 days (P < 0.001) with drone implementation.
• Mean TAT reduced from 16.6 to 6.9 days, and mean OOPE dropped from approximately USD 113.4 to USD 1.0.
• Qualitative data revealed patient-reported barriers to care including travel, lost wages, and stigma.

Conclusions:

• Drone-based logistics significantly reduce diagnostic TAT and improve access to TB diagnosis in rural India.
• The findings support the scalability of drone technology for national TB elimination programs.