— EARLY DETECTION AND TREATMENT IS CRUCIAL TO SAVE LIVES, SAYS HEALTH MINISTER DR BALBIR SINGH
— PUNJAB AIMS FOR 600 EYE CHECK-UPS AND 300 CANCER SCREENINGS DAILY USING CUTTING-EDGE AI DEVICES
CHANDIGARH, September 23:
In a landmark move to strengthen preventive healthcare as desired by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister on Tuesday launched first-of-its-kind Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled screening devices for early detection of breast cancer, cervical cancer, and refractive errors.
The Punjab Government’s initiative, implemented in collaboration with ACT Grants, introduces portable, radiation-free, and AI-powered devices across eight districts of Punjab. These include Thermalytix by Niramai for breast cancer screening, Smart Scope by Periwinkle for cervical cancer screening, and Portable Autorefractometer by Forus Health for vision impairment screening. The event also featured a demonstration of all the devices.
Describing the launch as a historic leap forward in making healthcare accessible, accurate, and equitable, Dr Balbir Singh stressed the critical need for early diagnosis and treatment. “Prevention and early detection are the cornerstones of effective healthcare. With these advanced devices, we are taking screening to the doorsteps of our communities, especially in rural areas, overcoming barriers of fear, cost, and accessibility. This initiative will not only save lives but also position Punjab as a leader in AI-driven public health innovation.”
The Minister highlighted statistics from the ICMR National Cancer Registry Programme, which reported 42,288 new cancer cases in Punjab in 2024 – a 7% increase from the previous year. He also pointed to NFHS-5 data showing that only 0.3% of women aged 30–49 in Punjab have ever been screened for breast cancer, and just 2.4% for cervical cancer. “We are determined to reverse these trends and set a national example,” he affirmed.
Dr Balbir Singh said that these AI-based devices are designed for use in primary health settings, enabling rapid, non-invasive, and highly accurate screenings. The state aims to conduct at least 600 eye check-ups and 300 breast and cervical cancer screenings per day, significantly enhancing early detection rates and reducing the burden on tertiary care facilities, he said.
Meanwhile, the Health Minister also appealed to the gathering to generously contribute to ‘Mission Chardi Kala Fund’, a fundraising campaign launched by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann to support flood-affected families’ rehabilitation.
On the occasion, Member Punjab Development Commission Anurag Kundu, Mission Director NHM Punjab Ghanshyam Thori, Director Health Services Dr Hitinder Kaur, Director Family Welfare Dr Aditi Salaria, Director Medical Education & Research Dr Avnish Kumar, Director ESI Dr Anil Goyal and CEO ACT Grants Aakanksha Gulati were among other senior health officials, representatives from partnering organisations, healthcare professionals, and community workers present.
