Ateneo researchers find AI could lower TB screening costs in Philippines

Researchers at Ateneo de Manila University have developed a decision-analytic model suggesting that artificial intelligence could significantly reduce the cost of tuberculosis (TB) screening in the Philippines. The study, conducted by Dr. Harold Chiu, Dr. Bryan Lao, and Dr. Gloanne Adolor, focuses on the potential for AI-assisted chest X-ray interpretation to bridge healthcare gaps in rural and underserved communities.

According to the model, implementing an AI-assisted strategy could lower annual screening costs from PHP 1,142 (approximately $20) per person to PHP 877 (approximately $15). For a theoretical annual cohort of 1,000 presumptive TB patients, the total annual cost would drop from PHP 1.14 million to PHP 877,330.

The research highlights that TB remains a major public health challenge in the Philippines, with an estimated 739,000 cases in 2024, representing 6.8% of global cases. AI integration aims to address delays in diagnosis caused by the scarcity of radiologists in remote areas, providing more affordable and timely expert-level support to resource-constrained regions.