Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji,, Feb 4: Goa health minister Vishwajit Rane announced on Tuesday that the state government is fast-tracking plans to make the upcoming cancer hospital fully operational by the end of 2027. The facility will be equipped with advanced instruments imported from Israel and will function in collaboration with the Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai.
Rane highlighted that Goa has already carried out over one lakh chest x-rays using an AI-powered screening system, which has identified thousands of critical lung nodules and cut diagnosis time by more than half. “Goa is the first state in India to implement an AI-enabled lung cancer screening pilot,” he said. “By the end of this year, we aim to review over two lakh chest x-rays. We have proposed making AI-assisted screening a standard alongside chest x-rays in all government hospitals, so early detection is available to everyone.”
The initiative is being implemented under a public-private partnership with AstraZeneca and Qure.ai. The AI system integrates with the existing digital x-ray network to analyse chest x-rays, CT scans, and follow-ups, helping detect potential signs of lung cancer even when patients visit hospitals for unrelated health issues.
This technology promises to enhance early diagnosis and improve outcomes for lung cancer patients across the state.