With the strategic support of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkmenistan continues its cooperation aimed at strengthening the national healthcare system and creating preventive, accessible, and digitalized medical services. As part of this collaboration, an advanced tuberculosis screening technology using artificial intelligence (AI) has been introduced, UNDP Turkmenistan reported.
Under this initiative, the central and velayat tuberculosis hospitals across the country have been equipped with ultra-portable X-ray units, powered by CAD4TB (Computer-Aided Detection for Tuberculosis) AI-based software. CAD4TB is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a tool for tuberculosis screening in adults. To ensure maximum effectiveness, UNDP organized comprehensive training for national medical personnel.
This new technology fundamentally changes the approach to TB screening. Unlike the traditional system, which requires big stationary equipment and the presence of a radiologist, the ultra-portable X-ray unit fits into a backpack. It operates on a battery that can be charged either from the included solar panel or the electrical grid, and it can conduct up to 400 examinations on a single charge. CAD4TB analyzes an X-ray image within seconds with high accuracy and determines the likelihood of pulmonary tuberculosis. This increases screening capacity even in remote areas and reduces the probability of diagnostic errors.
The implementation of this innovative technology serves as a model for future transformations. It clearly demonstrates how digitalization and mobility can overcome key limitations – geographical and human resource constraints – to achieve universal health coverage.
“Most of us have undergone an X-ray at least once in our lives and are familiar with the typical process: it usually takes place in large, stationary rooms equipped with bulky machinery and requires the presence of specialists, to which the patient must travel themselves. Now, with the advancement of innovation, this situation is changing: portable X-ray units with CAD4TB can be rapidly deployed even to the most remote locations – meaning the equipment can be brought directly to the patient – while artificial intelligence instantly analyzes the images, detecting signs of tuberculosis. This approach transforms screening from a slow and labor-intensive procedure into a mobile, efficient, and accessible opportunity for everyone to detect the disease in a timely manner,” said Tomica Paovic, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Turkmenistan.
