Papua New Guinea has taken a major step forward in tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and treatment, with artificial intelligence (AI) now being used to screen mothers and children at the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) — the first such initiative in the country.
According to obstetrician Dr. Pauline Masta from the Child Maternal TB and HIV programme, over 1,000 perinatal women have been screened using AI-assisted X-ray since March 2024. “In some cases, we’ve detected subclinical TB in mothers who appeared healthy but had the disease picked up by the AI,” she said, adding that early detection through AI has led to faster treatment and better accessibility in the labour ward.
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| PNG Introduces AI in TB Care for Mothers and Children |
National TB programme representative Dr. Margaret Kal said the technology has proven to be a “powerful tool” in accelerating TB response and improving patient outcomes, particularly in communities with limited access to radiologists.
The Australian High Commission confirmed the project was a collaborative effort between the University of Papua New Guinea’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences, the National TB Programme, the PNG Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society, the Paediatric Society of PNG, the National Capital District Health Authority, World Vision International, and Baylor College of Medicine.
Supported by the Australian government through the PNG–Australia Partnership’s Stop TB initiative, a portable X-ray machine powered by AI has been procured for use at PMGH. The AI tool, integrated into a MinXray system, generates TB risk scores within seconds, helping health workers make quicker and more informed decisions.
Since its installation in 2024, the MinXray system equipped with QureAI software has enabled PMGH to extend AI-assisted TB screening across its maternity wing, radiology department, and TB clinics.
Papua New Guinea continues to battle one of the highest TB prevalence rates in the Western Pacific, with more than 30,000 new cases reported annually.
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