Case Study: THINK improves TB diagnosis in South Africa with Qure.ai

How AI is Turning the Tide Against Tuberculosis in South Africa

THINK, working with Qure.ai, faced a major tuberculosis (TB) screening challenge in South Africa, where high TB burden, HIV co-infection, and limited access to healthcare workers made timely diagnosis difficult. Traditional sputum-based methods often missed cases, especially among HIV-positive patients, creating a need for faster, more accessible screening.

To address this, Qure.ai helped deploy AI-augmented portable X-ray screening units through a multi-partner program with mobile vans across rural areas. In the first six months, 6,500 people were screened and 7% were identified as presumptive TB cases, leading to 187 diagnoses that may otherwise have been missed. The solution improved turnaround time, supported diagnosis without radiologists, and expanded access in hard-to-reach communities.

THINK

Nokuphila Shoba Duma

THINK