Philippine healthcare sees rise of AI tools
The Philippines is expanding its adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) to advance key sectors, with healthcare emerging as one of the most active areas of integration. In the medical field, AI is being used to improve disease detection, speed up diagnostics, and expand access to healthcare services in underserved areas. In recent months, several new initiatives and partnerships have integrated the country’s growing use of AI in healthcare into national development efforts..
Leveling up TB screening with AI
Recently, Japan has signed an agreement with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to provide 370 million yen in grant aid for a tuberculosis (TB) screening project in the Philippines. [1]
The initiative, titled “Project for Strengthening Screening System for Tuberculosis in the Remote Areas,” was formalized on October 16 in Manila through the exchange of notes between Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya and UNOPS Geneva Director Andrew Kirkwood, according to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The project will supply portable X-ray machines and AI–based diagnostic systems to improve TB detection in underserved regions. The technology is expected to expand access to screening and reinforce the country’s infectious disease response.
The Philippines recorded 739,000 new TB cases in 2023, with an incidence rate of 643 per 100,000 people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The Philippine government aims to lower TB deaths from 18 to 5 per 100,000 and cut the incidence rate to 300 per 100,000 by 2030.
Officials said the cooperation will support the country’s goal of achieving universal health coverage by strengthening medical infrastructure and diagnostic capacity in remote communities.
In a related development, an AI initiative between Siemens Healthineers Philippines and the Philippine Business for Social Progress was launched to equip public hospitals and health centers in Luzon with AI software capable of detecting early signs of TB. [2]
The software will be installed in 28 hospitals and health centers across Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon, which includes Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.
Philippine Business for Social Progress executive director Elvin Ivan Uy said the three regions account for more than 60% of the country’s TB cases. He added that the new technology is expected to help health workers screen about 126,000 people each month more efficiently.
Developed by Qure.ai, the software automatically interprets digital chest X-rays and generates results within seconds, allowing faster diagnosis and treatment.
Siemens Healthineers Executive Vice President Tisha Boatman said early diagnosis is crucial to controlling the disease and preventing further transmission. She said TB patients need consistent medication for several months and that missed follow-ups can lead to infections spreading to others.
Boatman added that many hospitals and health centers face manpower shortages that delay chest X-ray results. She said AI enables immediate diagnoses through the “screen and treat” approach, in which presumptive cases are confirmed with sputum tests and treatment begins right away.
Latest innovations and application in health research
Along the same vein, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, has promoted AI and digital tools designed to improve healthcare access and research in the country. [3]
During the Talakayang HeaRT Beat press conference on May 27, DOST presented the i-SULAT system developed by the University of Santo Tomas. The software analyzes handwriting strokes to assess early childhood development and assist in diagnosing neurological conditions and stroke recovery.
DOST Secretary Renato Solidum said adopting digital technologies is part of building a more inclusive and resilient health system through science and innovation.
Also featured was the Immersive Gamification Technology Systems project, which uses interactive digital environments to support rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy and patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Both systems are undergoing clinical trials led by the University of the Philippines Manila.
The HealthPH Project of the National University of Manila was also presented. It tracks respiratory disease trends through social media using machine learning and natural language processing to help local governments monitor outbreaks.
DOST said these projects support its goal of promoting science-based, inclusive, and sustainable healthcare solutions under its OneDOST4U program.
Meanwhile, health researchers from the Western Visayas region also promoted the use of AI in health research and development. DOST Secretary Renato Solidum reiterated during a recently held three-day conference in Iloilo City, with the theme “AI for Health Research in Western Visayas,” that the goal is to create a region where researchers work together and health research outcomes are translated into practical policies and programs that improve lives. [4]
Dr. Aimee Marie Gayomali of the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development said AI can strengthen health service delivery in remote areas by speeding up patient diagnosis. She said the technology allows them to direct services to those who need them most and that any AI innovation improving public service delivery is welcome.
UP Manila Chancellor Dr. Michael Tee said AI and data can be used to predict suitable interventions and improve workflow.
DOST Regional Director Rowen Gelonga said the region is preparing for AI adoption and has already developed an action plan in coordination with various stakeholders. He added that both the government and the private sector are contributing to this effort.
1. https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/pressite_000001_01785.html
2. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2045833/luzon-hospitals-centers-get-help-from-tb-detecting-ai
3. https://www.dost.gov.ph/knowledge-resources/news/86-2025-news/4015-ai-immersive-tech-smart-tools-dost-drives-digital-health-innovation-in-ph.html
4. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1262041
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