Balochistan to get 30 AI equipped X-ray machines

15,000 TB patients with 17 per cent ratio of children in province

QUETTA:

As many as 30 digital x-ray machines equipped with artificial intelligence will be dispatched to all districts of the province as part of the Provincial TB Control Programme’s measures to properly diagnose and control the Tuberculosis posing massive hazards to the populace of Balochistan.

“The IA-equipped x-ray machines, provided by the global fund will not only diagnose stages of TB but will also give a hint to other pulmonary diseases,” Dr. Asif Shahwani, Provincial Manager of TB Control Programme told APP on Tuesday.

There would be no need for a radiologist once the IA-equipped x-ray machines are installed in the districts, he remarked. Shahwani further noted that a technical training session would be launched to train the technical staff for the operation of the digital X-ray machines.

He said that currently there were 15,000 TB patients with a 17 per cent ratio of children in the province and the programme was enhancing efforts to trace the affected people.

With the support of the programme, the treatment of TB diseases has been minimized from 18 to six months, he said, adding that every patient has been provided Rs10,000 in terms of food and Rs2,000 as travelling expenses going for the check-up on a monthly basis.

As many as four mobile vehicles equipped with modern machines and detective tools were active to facilitate the TB patients in far-flung and remote areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2024.