Artificial intelligence (AI) could become a game-changer in India’s fight against tuberculosis (TB) and lung cancer by helping doctors identify suspicious abnormalities earlier, prioritise high-risk patients and accelerate further investigations. This was highlighted by experts during NAPCON 2026, the 28th Joint Annual National Conference of the National College of Chest Physicians, India (NCCP-I), and the Indian Chest Society (ICS), which was held from October 22 to 25 at B.M. Birla Auditorium, Jaipur. More than 2,000 pulmonologists, respiratory physicians, researchers and healthcare professionals from India, the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries participated in the conference.
Dr. Randeep Guleria, former Director of AIIMS, New Delhi, who inaugurated the conference said “Artificial intelligence has the potential to change how we approach the early detection of respiratory diseases. By helping identify suspicious findings on chest X-rays and CT scans, AI can support doctors in making faster, more informed decisions and directing patients towards timely investigations. For a country like India, where the burden of TB and lung cancer is substantial, this technology could make a meaningful difference when combined with clinical expertise,”
Dr. Raj Kumar, Director, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute (VPCI), Delhi said “AI-assisted chest X-ray screening offers an important opportunity to expand the reach of TB detection, particularly in settings where specialist expertise is not always readily available. It can help prioritise patients who require further evaluation and make screening programmes more efficient. The real benefit will come when these tools are integrated into a reliable diagnostic system that connects patients with confirmatory tests and timely treatment,”
Prof. Dr. Mohammed Munavvar, Senior Interventional Pulmonologist at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, United Kingdom said “Lung cancer outcomes are closely linked to how early the disease is identified. AI can help clinicians detect and assess suspicious nodules on CT scans and prioritise patients who may need further investigation. If implemented responsibly, these tools could strengthen diagnostic workflows and support earlier clinical decisions, but their performance must be validated and their findings interpreted by trained healthcare professionals,”
Dr. Mahendra Kumar, Organizing Chairman, and Dr. Vinod Joshi, Organizing Secretary, NAPCON 2026 and Senior Professor, Department of Respiratory Medicine, RUHS College of Medical Sciences, Jaipur said “NAPCON 2026 provides an important platform to discuss how scientific advances can improve everyday respiratory care. AI offers new possibilities for earlier detection of TB and lung cancer, and our priority must be to translate these advances into practical, accessible solutions that benefit patients across India,” .