A 60-year-old grandmother from Shahapur, Thane district, recently experienced the integration of advanced technology with healthcare during a local health camp. Utilizing an AI-enabled portable X-ray machine linked to a laptop, she underwent a chest scan that quickly flagged abnormal results, indicating pneumonia but not presumptive tuberculosis (TB). This innovative technology is part of Maharashtra’s efforts in TB detection, with a recent campaign screening nearly 13 crore individuals and identifying over 7 lakh cases, including 2.85 lakh asymptomatic ones. While portable machines are fixed at BMC hospitals in Mumbai, they’ve already completed 10,000 scans, allowing for immediate treatment initiation compared to traditional methods. The quick results from tests like CBNAAT and Truenat further enhance early diagnosis potential. However, experts caution it’s too early to gauge the effectiveness of AI in the TB program. Strengthening healthcare systems remains essential for furthering TB elimination efforts in India.
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