Qure.ai increases TB detection, while saving costs, shows evaluation in India

The new Health Technology Assessment (HTA) conducted by the Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar (IIPHG) has reinforced the financial and operational benefits of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chest X-ray interpretation for tuberculosis (TB) screening. The study cites that qXR from Qure.ai, not only improves efficiency, but also reduces costs compared to existing clinical pathways, making it a cost-saving intervention in India’s high TB burden regions. The assessment was conducted at the behest of the Department of Health Research, operating under the Government of India.  

The HTA study employed cost-effective analysis based on an economic model from a health system perspective to evaluate the effectiveness of AI tools in improving TB diagnosis and care. The study focused on the diagnostic accuracy and cost-effectiveness of multiple AI-assisted chest X-ray interpretation solutions. The solutions were also compared to the manual interpretation of the X-rays.  

Qure.ai’s qXR outperformed in cost efficiency and was found to be the best in overall results, compared to all other CDSCO-cleared TB AI solutions in India. The findings show that AI-assisted TB screening with qXR costs less per screened case than traditional methods.  

India accounts for 28% of the world’s new TB cases, with an estimated 2.8 million new cases reported in 2023. Despite aggressive screening and treatment efforts, the country faces critical challenges in early TB detection and high patient volumes.  

"AI must be a catalyst in making TB screening more accessible, equitable, and efficient, especially in high-burden settings like India. The latest health economics study confirms what we’ve observed in the field: Qure.ai’s qXR is not just cost-effective, but cost-saving. For public health programs stretched for resources, this means we can reach more people with the same budget, accelerating progress toward TB elimination," said Prashant Warier, CEO and Founder, Qure.ai  

It is not the first time that qXR has been positioned as an ideal solution for TB screening. It was evaluated by the WHO in YEAR, which found it to be effective even in the absence of a human reader. The solution is deployed in 2600+ sites across 67+ countries, with a strong footprint in India and many other countries TB programs. 

With TB elimination being a national priority in India, scaling AI-driven screening solutions like qXR can free up healthcare resources, improve workflow efficiency, and ensure no patient is left behind due to diagnostic delays.