Cape Town — The Department of Health is considering using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in an effort to accelerate the screening and diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) and silicosis in South Africa.
In a conference from 20-22 June, the health department will meet with TB experts and stakeholders and discuss how AI can enhance diagnosis of both TB and silicosis in the country. Experts will also find a way to address testing backlogs, especially amongst people who contracted the diseases in mines, EWN reported.
The department said the current testing methods being used have been integral in diagnosing sickness, but they have some limitations.
“This follows the recommendation by the World Health Organization for member states to use computer-aided detection software in order to interpret chest X-rays when screening and triaging for tuberculosis,” said spokesperson Foster Mohale.
The Department of Health is considering adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool as
part of efforts to accelerate the screening and diagnosis of TB and Silicosis in South Africa. @World @StopTB @Auruminstitute @SA_AIDSCOUNCIL @_BongiweZwane @MorningLiveSABC @ewnupdates pic.twitter.com/HPaSA5ZMRm— Foster Mohale (@Foster_Mohale) June 19, 2024
According to The Citizen, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended that member states use computer-aided software to interpret chest X-rays for screening. Mohale said that, while radiological methods are integral in diagnosing TB, there are limitations.
“These methods have limitations, especially in differentiating between TB and silicosis, due to their similar radiological presentations as well as silico-tuberculosis.” he said.
The theme of the conference is Dust and Infection-Free Lungs: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for TB and Silicosis. The department said this is the opportune time to help the country gain awareness of the Computer Aided Detection diagnostic tools to assist towards the End TB Goal by 2035.
MJ Petroni, a cyborg anthropologist and futurist at Causeit, said generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) allowed people to solve problems. He was a keynote speaker at the Dell Technologies Forum at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit.
“It allows us to solve problems that previously we were told are too expensive to solve. So, whether that’s providing healthcare for everyone or a tutor for every child or student or access to information in every language, we can now do that.” Petroni said.
While AI has the potential to transform health treatment the WHO warned that rapid roll-out without fully understanding how AI performs could end up harming patients. The WHO said AI held great promise for healthcare but also came with challenges, notably around privacy and the potential to entrench existing problems.
Director General, South Africa Ministry of Health in his opening remarks said AI based detection of TB from chest X-ray is a disrupter and it has great potential to help South Africa in scaling up efficiently the screening of people in occupational health setting for silicosis. https://t.co/wdVBDMy3tL pic.twitter.com/8734SJQpvK
— Suvanand Sahu (@SahuSuvanand) June 20, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
