TAIPEI, Taiwan — Artificial intelligence could help expand access to medical specialists in underserved areas as Taiwan-based Acer Medical seeks Philippine regulatory approval for its AI-powered disease-screening technology.

Acer Medical chairman Dr. Allen Lien said the company is already working with National Taiwan University Hospital on a program in the Philippines and has deployed some of its AI technology and medical equipment in local hospitals.

“We got some positive feedback,” Lien told visiting journalists on 21 August.

The company plans to work with local distributors once its technology secures approval from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration.

One of Acer Medical’s key systems uses AI to analyze retinal images of diabetic patients and determine whether they need to see an eye specialist. It can also screen for glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.

Lien said AI-assisted screening could help doctors prioritize patients who need specialist care, particularly in areas where medical specialists are scarce.

Acer Medical is also developing AI systems that can analyze chest X-rays, detect changes in walking patterns through smartphone video and monitor stroke patients using data from wearable devices.

Despite the potential, Lien said AI should not be viewed simply as a replacement for doctors, particularly when patients need human interaction and empathy.

He also pointed to the need for medical AI to account for differences among populations, noting that systems trained on global data may not always align with local medical guidelines.

“If you want something that’s tailored for Asians, then it might not really fit well,” he said.

Acer Medical has deployed its AI systems in hundreds of health facilities across Southeast Asia and remote Pacific communities.

For the Philippines, the immediate hurdle is regulatory approval. If cleared, the technology could give hospitals and health centers another means of screening patients in communities where access to specialists remains limited.