Lung cancer is a pervasive concern in Malaysia, where it ranks among the most common cancers. Alarmingly, the majority of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, where the disease has already spread to other parts of the body, severely affecting treatment outcomes. Recognising this challenge, Projek SAPU, a groundbreaking initiative by AstraZeneca, is poised to revolutionise lung care in Malaysia by harnessing the power of AI.
At its core, Projek SAPU seeks to close the gap in lung cancer screening by expanding public access to cutting-edge AI technology. By identifying more patients in the early stages of cancer, it aims to substantially improve the prognosis and treatment outcomes for those affected.
This visionary initiative is part of AstraZeneca's larger Lung Ambition Alliance program, initiated in 2021 at the primary care level in private clinics. Over the course of a year, AstraZeneca expanded its early AI lung cancer screening program by collaborating with three private tertiary hospitals. This collaboration facilitated patient referrals from clinics for further diagnosis using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans.
Since its inception in 2021, nearly 19,000 patients have undergone lung cancer screening, with over 400 high-risk individuals being referred to selected hospitals for further evaluation. Under Projek SAPU's third phase, the AI technology will be rolled out as a pilot study in selected government clinics and hospitals nationwide.
These selected centres will serve as 'sandbox sites' to compile valuable data on the initiative's outcomes, contributing to a more profound understanding of Malaysia's local healthcare landscape and disease demographics.
Click here to read the original news story.