New AI-powered portable X-ray machines to help early detection and treatment of TB in the Philippines

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. portable / ˈpɔr tə bəl / (adj.) – describing something that is easy to carry or move from one place to another
    Example:

    I bought a portable fan because it is easy to carry in my bag.


  2. game changer / ˈgeɪmˌtʃeɪn dʒər / (n.) – something that makes a big difference or completely changes a situation, often making it much better or easier
    Example:

    The invention of the Internet was a game changer for communication.


  3. specificity / ˌspɛs əˈfɪs ɪ ti / (n.) – how clear, exact, and detailed something is; the quality of giving precise information instead of general ideas
    Example:

    Adding more details will increase the specificity of your report.


  4. indication / ˌɪn dɪˈkeɪ ʃən / (n.) – a sign or signal that shows something is happening, true, or will happen
    Example:

    There is no indication that the weather will improve today.


  5. infectious / ɪnˈfɛk ʃəs / (adj.) – (in medicine) describing a disease that can spread from one person to another through air, touch, or fluids
    Example:

    People are advised to wash their hands frequently to prevent infectious illnesses.


Article

Read the text below.

The World Health Organization (WHO) marked World Tuberculosis Day on March 24. This year’s slogan is ‘Yes! We can end TB!’


Medics diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) in the Philippines are now using portable X-ray machines equipped with Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) software powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate the screening, early detection, and treatment.


“It is a game changer, for the simple reason that this artificial intelligence are equipped to know the landmarks and then the parameters to check if an X-ray film has possessed or has a characteristic of a TB patient,” says Dr. Clarissa Dayrit-Halum, Technical Officer of the World Health Organization in the Philippines.


“So, these are all installed in our machines, in our X-ray machines, and then the reading … The doctors will still evaluate all the readings of our AI. Don’t get me wrong. They still read the results. It’s just that it’s faster. The accuracy and specificity of our AI is very high, no less than 99%,” Dayrit-Halum adds.


Currently, TB in the Philippines is a high burden. The country is in the number 3 slot globally, second to Indonesia. India holds the top spot with 26% of global cases, according to the WHO.


“This mobile X-ray will help in the screening. It will accelerate the screening of the patients, and it will lead to a faster and even increase the volume of patients for a given regular time as compared to the conventional regular screening on X-rays,” says Dr. Camilio Cesar Baluyot.


About 8.3 million people across the globe were newly diagnosed with TB in 2024. Not all infections are diagnosed, and the new numbers represent 78% of the estimated number of people who actually fell ill that year, according to WHO figures. WHO officials see the increase as an indication that screening and treatment are improving after health care disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Globally, the number of deaths caused by TB fell in 2024 to 1.23 million, down from 1.25 million the year before.


Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria that attack the lungs and is spread through the air when an infectious person coughs or sneezes.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • The Philippines is using AI-powered X-ray machines to detect TB faster and more accurately. What do you think about AI giving medical diagnoses? Do you think artificial intelligence can ever replace human judgment in medical decisions? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • The use of portable X-ray machines allows medics to reach more people in different locations. In your opinion, should healthcare always come to the patient, or is there a benefit to having patients visit a hospital? Why do you say so? Do you think mobile health technology, like portable X-ray machines, can help with healthcare in your community? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • TB spreads through the air when an infectious person coughs or sneezes. What everyday actions do you think are most important to prevent infectious diseases like TB? Discuss.
  • World TB Day 2026 uses the slogan “Yes! We can end TB!” In your opinion, do slogans really motivate people to take action against diseases? Why or why not? If you could create a slogan for any health problem, what would it be and why? Discuss.