Smartphone AI Tool Rolled Out in AP to Detect Diseases Early

It has been deployed across Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in East Godavari district under the MedTech Innovation Challenge 2025, in collaboration with the state government and Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH).

Andhra Pradesh government has announced the rollout of a smartphone-based, AI-enabled screening system to detect tuberculosis (TB), anaemia and cataract at the primary healthcare level, with a focus on early diagnosis in rural areas.

The initiative, led by the state government, began around March 2026. At the centre of the pilot is ‘Swaasa’, an AI-powered respiratory screening platform developed by Salcit Technologies.

It has been deployed across Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in East Godavari district under the MedTech Innovation Challenge 2025, in collaboration with the state government and Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH).

Moving away from traditional survey-based methods, the programme relies on real-time, technology-enabled screening. In villages of East Godavari, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) are using smartphones to capture cough samples from residents.

These audio recordings are then processed by the Swaasa application, which applies Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify potential respiratory issues and recommend further diagnostic testing.

The scale of the pilot has already shown early impact. Close to 8,000 people have been screened within six weeks using the Swaasa platform, highlighting its potential to work effectively at the grassroots level.

"Our vision is to make respiratory screening accessible to every individual. This pilot shows how a simple cough, captured on a smartphone, can enable early detection even in asymptomatic cases," said, Narayana Rao, Salcit Technologies Founder and CTO

The collected data is analysed instantly, allowing health workers to quickly identify high-risk individuals and refer them for further testing and treatment. Alongside TB detection, the broader pilot also includes screening for anaemia and cataract, expanding its public health impact.

By integrating AI into primary healthcare, Andhra Pradesh is attempting to bridge gaps in access, improve early diagnosis, and strengthen preventive healthcare systems.

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