According to the first-of-its-kind study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under the i-DRONE initiative, using unmanned aerial vehicles to transport sputum samples from remote villages to tuberculosis (TB) testing centers can reduce diagnosis times by nearly two-thirds while minimizing patient travel expenses.
The study, conducted in the Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district of Telangana state, demonstrated a significant improvement in indicators. The median time to receive TB diagnostic results decreased from 15 days to just five days after drones replaced traditional ground transport for sample delivery. On average, the diagnostic time reduced from 16.6 days to 6.9 days.
Furthermore, average out-of-pocket expenses for patients dropped from 9451 rupees to 91 rupees, representing a reduction of almost 99%. This study, published in the peer-reviewed journal IJTLD Open, assessed sample transportation using drones in real-world program conditions in collaboration with the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP).
Researchers from AIIMS Bibinagar, the ICMR's i-DRONE initiative, and AIIMS Bhubaneswar conducted this study. It became the first long-term program-based evaluation in India on the impact of drone logistics on TB diagnosis. The intervention covered 11 primary health centers, 60 sub-centers, and four TB units linked through a 'hub and spoke' network coordinated from AIIMS Bibinagar.
Patients could now submit sputum samples at the nearest medical facility instead of traveling 10–30 km to diagnostic centers. From there, drones delivered the samples to laboratories equipped with CBNAAT and Truenat machines.
The study involved 840 people: 206 during the traditional transport phase and 634 after the drones began operating. In addition to reducing diagnostic delays, there was a sharp increase in the reporting of TB test results the next day—from 1.5% to 76.3%. The percentage of patients waiting more than two days for results decreased from 92.2% to 16.3%.
Patients cited poor transport accessibility, travel difficulties, loss of income, and stigma associated with frequent visits to medical facilities as main reasons for diagnostic delays. Researchers noted that shifting sample transportation instead of moving patients significantly reduced both financial and logistical barriers.
The conclusion stated that integrating drones into the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme can improve access to rapid diagnosis in rural, mountainous, and hard-to-reach areas, bringing India closer to the goal of eradicating tuberculosis. The authors acknowledged that the study was conducted only in one district, and long-term outcomes such as treatment adherence still require assessment; however, they emphasized that the data obtained proves the operational feasibility of drone-based logistics and its ability to strengthen equitable access to TB treatment.
Safdarjung Hospital stated on Sunday that the claims made by Sonam Vangchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, during his current treatment, 'do not facilitate the smooth provision of patient medical care.'
This statement followed Angmo's accusation that the hospital was concealing important medical information and her application to the Delhi High Court requesting Vangchuk's transfer to a private clinic.
According to an ANI report, the hospital indicated that the Patient Status Report provided by Angmo on Saturday clearly listed Vangchuk's potassium levels. However, she later claimed on social media that the hospital had not provided the potassium values in writing nor included them in the health bulletin.
The hospital noted that such incidents during the ongoing course of treatment impede the seamless management of the patient's condition. It reported that a multidisciplinary team of doctors constantly consults with both the patient and his family to ensure timely medical intervention and adherence to the recommended treatment protocol.
The hospital also issued a medical summary stating that the 59-year-old activist was brought to VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital at 7:40 AM on July 18 after being transported by the Delhi police. It was noted that Vangchuk had been fasting without solid food for 20 days and suffered from general weakness. Initial tests revealed compensated acidosis and a low serum potassium level of about 2.9 mEq/L, while urinary ketones increased throughout the day.
The hospital advised intravenous solutions, oral rehydration solutions, and medication; however, Vangchuk refused all treatment and remained under constant observation and consultation.
The hospital's reaction came after Angmo announced that she had approached the Delhi High Court seeking to transfer Vangchuk to a private clinic of her choice, stating that she had 'lost faith' in Safdarjung Hospital. In her petition, she alleged that the hospital was disclosing only selective medical information, hindering an independent assessment of his condition, and refusing discharge despite repeated requests.
Furthermore, Angmo claimed a discrepancy between the potassium level cited by Safdarjung Hospital and the results from an independent laboratory. She asserted that the blood test, provided late, showed a potassium level of 3.6 compared to the 2.9 stated by the hospital. Angmo also claimed that the strong presence of police inside the hospital effectively restricted the family's movement, describing Vangchuk's continued stay as 'illegal detention.'
Nara Smith shared news that many parents hope to hear: her young daughter Wimzy Lou is officially in remission after completing her course of treatment.
Earlier this year, lifestyle blogger Nara Smith revealed that her two-year-old daughter Wimzy Lou had been diagnosed with cancer, which shocked her followers worldwide. Now, after undergoing several months of therapy, Smith posted an emotional video announcing that Wimzy Lou has finished chemotherapy.
24-year-old Nara Smith and her husband, model Lucky Blue Smith, kept their daughter's diagnosis a secret during the treatment. Smith explained that they decided to wait until the treatment was complete and the outcome was clear before sharing the information.
According to Smith, now that Wimzy Lou is in remission, she has found the words to talk about what her family went through over the past eight months. The process began after Nara and Lucky noticed something was wrong and took their daughter to the emergency room. Following additional tests, including X-rays, ultrasounds, and a biopsy, doctors confirmed the spread of cancer, necessitating immediate chemotherapy.
Not limiting herself to the family's joy, Smith stated that she wants to use her popularity to draw attention to the issues faced privately by many other parents. She noted that undergoing chemotherapy showed her how expensive medical care can be and the heavy burden it places on families.
Since then, Smith has posted links to various GoFundMe campaigns and organizations supporting families whose children are still undergoing cancer treatment, urging her followers to help. Despite Wimzy Lou's treatment ending, Smith emphasized that recovery involves more than just medical results. She added that she and Lucky are trying to return to normal life, moving forward day by day, and she does not know if life will return to its former state, but they are trying to handle this new phase in the best way possible.
The couple are parents to Wimzy Lou, Rumble Honey, Slim Easy, and infant Founy Golden. Lucky Blue Smith also has an older daughter named Gravity. For Smith, remission marks the end of one chapter, but not the completion of the healing process, and she hopes that by sharing her experience, more attention will be paid to the emotional and financial difficulties that families face when caring for a child with cancer.
