Gujarat Records 65,000+ TB Cases as ICMR Drone Tech Slashes Testing Delays and Costs Nationwide

Gujarat has reported 65,307 tuberculosis (TB) cases between January and June 2026, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP). The fresh numbers follow 1,31,850 cases recorded across the state in 2025, highlighting ongoing public health efforts to track and treat the infectious disease.

State-Wise Burden: Uttar Pradesh Leads National TB Notifications

In nationwide comparisons, Uttar Pradesh registered the highest number of TB cases across both reporting periods, recording 7,10,242 cases in 2025 and 3,37,282 cases during the first half of 2026.

The top five states reporting the maximum TB cases in 2025 and the first half of 2026 are:

ICMR Drone Initiative Slashes Turnaround Time from 15 Days to 5

Alongside state-level surveillance data, the Health Ministry spotlighted major diagnostic breakthroughs achieved through the Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) i-DRONE initiative.

A recent ICMR study conducted in Telangana’s Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district—in collaboration with AIIMS Bibinagar and the NTEP—demonstrated that transporting TB sputum samples via drones dramatically accelerates medical intervention in hard-to-reach rural regions.

Key operational findings from the ICMR study include:

• Faster Results: Median diagnostic turnaround times dropped by two-thirds, reducing from 15 days down to just 5 days.
• Massive Cost Relief: Patient out-of-pocket expenses plummeted from an average of ₹9,451 to just ₹91.

By replacing traditional patient transit with automated aerial delivery for sample collection, the initiative eliminates long-distance travel barriers, enabling faster clinical decisions and significantly reducing the financial burden on rural families.