Arunachal Deploys AI Tools to Strengthen TB Diagnosis in Public Health System

As part of the first phase of implementation, the AI solutions will be introduced in five districts: Papumpare, Longding, Tirap, Namsai, and West Siang.

In a move to improve healthcare service delivery, the National Health Mission (NHM) in Arunachal Pradesh has partnered with Wadhwani AI to launch artificial intelligence-driven tools for tuberculosis screening and prediction. 

As part of the first phase of implementation, the AI solutions will be introduced in five districts: Papumpare, Longding, Tirap, Namsai, and West Siang.

According to NHM officials, the collaboration is aimed at enhancing early diagnosis, timely referrals, and data-driven healthcare delivery, with a focus on strengthening accessibility in underserved and rural areas. 

The AI tools include Vulnerability Mapping for TB (VMTB), Prediction of Adverse TB Outcome (PATO), and Cough Against TB (CAT), designed to aid early detection and management of TB cases.

AI tools target TB screening and predictive diagnosis

These AI-enabled tools are expected to support frontline health workers and healthcare administrators in prioritizing cases based on predictive outcomes and symptom screening. The solutions will be used to identify high-risk individuals, provide early alerts for adverse outcomes, and enable targeted interventions based on digital cough signatures.

Addressing the launch event on Thursday, NHM Mission Director Marge Sora stated, "The adoption of AI-driven health solutions marks a new phase in our public health response. These tools will strengthen our ability to intervene early and manage TB cases more effectively, especially in hard-to-reach regions where delays in diagnosis have critical consequences."

Officials underscore rural focus & data-backed interventions

The partnership highlights the growing focus on leveraging technology to bridge healthcare delivery gaps in remote northeastern states. As per NHM, the current rollout is expected to generate field-level data to support decision-making and optimize resource allocation in TB programs.

Neeraj Agarwal, Chief Program Officer at Wadhwani AI, noted, "Our AI solutions are tailored to assist health systems in making data-informed decisions. With predictive insights and early screening tools, we aim to support state health authorities in reducing the TB burden, especially in communities with limited access to medical infrastructure."

While the tools are currently focused on tuberculosis, officials indicated that, based on implementation outcomes, similar AI models could be explored for other communicable diseases in the future.