Tuberculosis remains a health problem in Indonesia, with an estimated 125,000 deaths in 2024. The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) RI supports research initiated by UGM researchers to develop computer-aided detection (CAD) software based on artificial intelligence (AI) technology. This software is developed to be used in TB control and prevention programs.
“This is what we’ve been waiting for,” said Dr. Tiffany Tiara Pakasi, MA, Chair of the Indonesian Ministry of Health’s Tuberculosis Working Team at an online coordination meeting on Monday (14/04).
At the meeting, dr. Tiara emphasized the importance of finding TB cases, which are estimated to number 1,092,000 in 2024. “However, not all of them have been found,” explained Dr. Tiara. Active case finding (ACF) of TB cases is one of the strategies implemented to accelerate TB elimination. AI technology can be used in ACF because it produces faster and more consistent results.
in addition, dr. Tiara continued, AI technology is suitable for mass screening programs that are cost-effective. Furthermore, dr. Tiara stated that the legal framework for TB control strategies is already robust, specifically Presidential Regulation (PP) No. 67 of 2021, which concerns TBC control. One strategy outlined in the PP is the utilization of research findings and technology for TBC screening, diagnosis, and management.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the use of CAD to assist in reading X-ray results. “Especially for patients in remote areas or in health facilities without doctors,” explained Dr. Antonia Morita I. Saktiawati, PhD, Principal Investigator of the KONEKSI X-ray AI TB Project. This project aims to develop an AI-based CAD for TB screening in remote areas that is also gender-friendly and inclusive for people with disabilities.
Besides UGM researchers, other parties involved are the University of Melbourne, Monash University Indonesia, Sebelas Maret University, YAKKUM Rehabilitation Center, Women, Disabled Persons, and Children Advocacy Center (SAPDA), and the Papua Health and Community Development Foundation (YPKMP). Four countries have developed CAD, namely the Netherlands, India, South Korea, and Japan. Meanwhile, Indonesia, as the country with the second-highest burden of tuberculosis cases in the world, does not yet have CAD. The contribution of UGM researchers is in line with Sustainable Development Goals Point 3: Good Health and Well-being, Point 5: Gender Equality, Point 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and Point 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
This project is expected to contribute to TBC control and enable Indonesia to have its own CAD. In fact, AI-based CAD is not without its weaknesses, as it has biases. “This happens when the data developed does not come from the population that will use it,” said dr. Morita. The CAD that will be produced by this project is expected to be more suitable for application in Indonesian society because it was developed using data from Indonesia.
This project is one of 18 projects funded by the KONEKSI program, a program initiated by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Jana Hertz, KONEKSI Program Team Leader, said that the 18 projects were selected from 632 projects that applied. There are three criteria used in selecting these projects, namely: inter-institutional partnerships, inclusiveness (gender equality, disability, and social), and having the potential to have a real impact on policy. According to her, the X-ray AI TBC project meets these three criteria. “We are eagerly awaiting the results of this research,” she concluded. (Contributor: Muhammad Ali Mahrus, Translated by: Tedy A)
