BAGUIO CITY — An ultra-portable X-ray machine integrated with AI software designed to assist healthcare workers in the rapid detection of tuberculosis will be deployed in Baguio City.

This comes after the recent signing of a memorandum of agreement between the Baguio City government and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) to introduce free, artificial intelligence-powered tuberculosis screening for local residents. The agreement was finalized at Baguio City Hall by Mayor Benjamin Magalong and PBSP Executive Director Elvin Ivan Uy, alongside City Health Services Office Head Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes.

The agreement is part of The Global Fund ACCESS TB Project, which aims to improve access to tuberculosis diagnostics in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas across the city. As part of the arrangement, PBSP is providing the ultra-portable X-ray machine integrated with AI software.

Because the equipment is lightweight and mobile, healthcare personnel will be able to bring diagnostic services directly to communities. This setup targets residents who face geographic or physical barriers to accessing healthcare facilities.

PBSP will manage technical training and mentoring for local operators while overseeing the program's overall quality. The city government, meanwhile, will handle daily operations by assigning licensed radiologic technologists to operate the equipment and radiologists to interpret the diagnostic results. The city is also responsible for equipment maintenance, storage, and compliance with patient data privacy requirements.

The joint program is scheduled to run through 31 December 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to modernize local public health services and improve early tuberculosis detection rates.