The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Novo Nordisk Foundation are working together to bring AI-powered health screenings to people who often miss out on care, according to a press release. Their new project will use artificial intelligence to help spot tuberculosis and some other diseases faster and more accurately, especially in places where there aren’t enough doctors.
Catalina Devandas from IOM summed it up: “Getting a timely diagnosis shouldn’t depend on where you live or whether a radiologist is available. AI can help make health screenings quicker, more affordable, and more reliable, especially in places where health systems are stretched.” The focus is on making sure migrants and refugees aren’t left waiting for care they need.
The program starts in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. IOM will team up with local health authorities and Qure.ai, a tech company, to use AI tools that read digital chest X-rays. In many remote areas, there just aren’t enough specialists, and screenings can be expensive. By using AI, the group hopes to cut costs, speed up care, and make results more accurate, stretching limited budgets further.
More than 250,000 migrants and refugees are expected to be screened. IOM radiologists will check the results, and the project will also train local health workers to use the new tools. Flemming Konradsen from the Novo Nordisk Foundation said, “We aim to demonstrate the viability of AI in low-resource, humanitarian settings.” The goal is to build up local skills and make these tools part of everyday care.
If the project works, IOM says it could expand to other countries with high TB rates and few resources. By working together, IOM and the Novo Nordisk Foundation hope to help more people get the care they need and show how technology can make a real difference in tough places.
