How a South African Startup Engineered AI for the Toughest Healthcare Environments

What if life-saving diagnostic tools could fit in the palm of your hand—and work just as well in a rural clinic with no electricity as they do in a top-tier hospital? That’s the question local startup AI Diagnostics set out to answer, and their solution is reshaping the way tuberculosis (TB) is detected in South Africa.

By combining digital stethoscopes with real-time artificial intelligence (AI) analysis, the startup has created a TB screening tool that’s not only smart, but purpose-built for the realities of low-resource environments. In South Africa early detection can mean the difference between life and death—and where traditional diagnostics are often out of reach—this innovation could be a game-changer.

According to stats, at least 29% of TB-positive cases are missed (or false negative) and approximately R22.8 billion is spent on testing TB-negative patients annually. Widely used symptomatic TB screening methods are inaccurate, resulting in billions wasted each year.

AI Diagnostics’ digital stethoscope captures sound waves from a patient screening to detect subtle variations in sound frequencies which can be indicative of TB. The captured sounds are processed by AI algorithms which have been trained to identify patterns associated with TB.

“By reducing the need for expensive imaging equipment, laboratory tests, and specialist consultations, We offer a more cost-effective solution for TB screening, especially in regions with limited healthcare budgets. It allows for earlier detection of TB, potentially improving treatment outcomes by starting interventions sooner,” says the company.

Challenges

In South Africa, most rural and remote areas face challenges such as no electricity and limited internet connectivity, which can hinder access to healthcare services and modern diagnostic equipment. AI Diagnostics claims its stethoscope is lightweight, portable and capable of conducting screenings offline, with data being uploaded once a stable connection is available.

One of the biggest challenges the company faced was fostering trust between patients and new technology. To overcome this, pilot studies and clinical trials were conducted. “Other challenges we face include slow-moving policy, lack of organisational track-record, and evolving regulatory requirements.”

“Our efforts to design user-friendly, portable, and cost-effective tools - alongside comprehensive training, strong community engagement, and adherence to data protection regulations - have paved the way for the successful implementation of AI-powered TB screening in the country,” the company explains.

AI's Broader Role in South African Healthcare

South Africa has a growing market when it comes to AI in healthcare, reports suggest that the market could grow from $0.04 billion (2022) to $0.95 billion by 2030. Currently, the technology is making its biggest impact in TB screening, with AI-based tools - collectively known as computer-aided detection (CAD) - being used to analyse digital x-ray images and provide an abnormality score that indicates the likelihood of TB. 

In underserved areas, AI Diagnostics says AI can become a valuable support tool, helping healthcare workers make faster decisions, provide timely healthcare services to patients and reduce costs.

“It is possible for AI to transform South Africa’s healthcare system by addressing many of the challenges like access and cost.  Through improved systems and enhanced support for healthcare workers, AI can increase the overall efficiency, making healthcare more accessible and affordable especially in the rural areas,” the company says.

Future Plans and Expansion

Looking ahead, the company envisions playing a significant role in healthcare, especially in resource-constrained countries like South Africa. Its long-term vision of the company is to provide more diagnostics tools and training and support to healthcare workers.  

“Our current focus is on TB detection, but we have plans to expand the scope of our AI tools to cover a broader range of infectious diseases. While South Africa is a key focus for us, we also plan to expand our solutions to other parts of where healthcare systems face similar resource constraints,” the company concluded.