Siemens Healthineers, Qure.AI to Collaborate on AI-based TB screening

Siemens Healthineers has partnered with Global Funds to advance the use of AI in tuberculosis chest X-rays. Healthineers will provide free licenses, train healthcare workers, and implement AI-enabled workflows with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria, and Qure. AI.

The Indonesia-focused effort might speed up routine scans and allow qualified radiologists to evaluate X-rays to diagnose TB remotely.

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AI-enhanced TB screening programs to improve diagnosis and treatment

The World Health Organization recommends chest X-rays for TB screening in specific populations. AI interest grows as some healthcare institutions lack the resources and equipment to implement tailored screening programs. The WHO advises “computer-aided detection” above human interpretation of digital chest X-rays for TB screening and triage.

Healthineers and two organizations are helping healthcare institutions adopt AI-enhanced TB screening programs. TB Qure receives 76% of international funding from the Global Fund.AI promises to be the “most widely used AI for comprehensive chest X-ray reporting.”

Healthineers sells digital X-ray systems, so the three organizations have access to healthcare facilities in high-TB areas, chest imaging technology, and AI for interpretation. The collaborators will use such resources to identify TB better.

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We think millions of TB patients are missing each year. We need more effective and reliable detection technologies to defeat this disease, which kills one person every two minutes. Said Global Fund executive director Peter Sands; AI may be one of the answers.

The companies seek to employ AI to speed up routine scan readings to reduce undiagnosed TB cases and speed up diagnosis. Health workers report that untreated TB can infect 15 people each year. Thus, early diagnosis and treatment can reduce pathogen spread.

Siemens Healthineers and Qure.ai to collaborate on AI-based TB screening in Indonesia

Indonesia has one of the world’s highest TB burdens, accounting for 9% of all TB cases. Siemens Healthineers and the Global Fund will use AI to read routine chest X-rays faster for TB diagnosis.

The Global Fund received $157 million from 2021 to 2023 to fight tuberculosis in Indonesia. Siemens Healthineers and Qure.ai, an Indian deep-learning tech company that develops AI-based TB X-ray software, will collaborate. Qure.ai’s cloud-based and on-premises platforms can detect more TB cases faster and cheaper.

In addition, Qure.ai X-ray platforms have received two FDA clearances to detect heart failure and lung diseases. Siemens Healthineers should cooperate with Qure.ai to deploy AI-enabled TB screening due to its experience and competence.

In 2023, GlobalData predicted $18.8 billion in healthcare AI platform revenue by 2027. Siemens Healthineers and Qure.AI will provide free AI software licenses and train healthcare staff to help AI succeed in TB screening. This cooperative initiative aims to improve screening to diagnose and treat more TB patients faster.