Vietnam develops AI software to assist COVID-19 treatment

Doctors hold consultations for a COVID-19 patient (Photo: VietnamPlus).

Hanoi (VNA) – Conglomerate Vingroup on August 25 presented DrAid^TM  Software and attached devices to the Ministry of Health to give assistance in prognosis assessment in COVID-19 treatment. 

DrAid^TM, the first AI software in Vietnam, has been developed by VinBrain under Vingroup since 2019 with a view to assisting the diagnosis of pulmonary, cardiac and bone diseases based on X-ray. It is currently used in 12 hospitals, one clinic and one system of mobile X-ray vans in Hanoi and adjacent cities.

The software helps to rapidly identify abnormalities based on upright chest X-ray images in less than 5 seconds. Combined with PCR test, the software helps to improve accuracy of test results, reduce false negative COVID-19 test results and assists in enhancement of treatment consistency and knowledge transfer from central-level doctors to grassroots-level doctors.

At the ceremony to hand over the AI software for COVID-19 diagnosis, prognosis and treatment, Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long stressed that Vingroup has given great support to the health ministry as well as localities nationwide amidst the complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Right from the beginning of the outbreak, Vingroup provided biological products for diagnosis, dialysis machines and some devices that are in shortage domestically.

“The AI software for COVID-19 diagnosis, prognosis and treatment is an example of pioneering activities in the fourth industrial revolution”, he said.

Long described the implementation of the software in COVID-19 diagnosis, prognosis and treatment as a significant step to help grassroots-level doctors, adding it should be applied in all health facilities nationwide.

As COVID-19 pandemic is getting worse, VinBrain has proactively coordinated and cooperated with the Electronic Health Administration (the Ministry of Health) in carrying out a project named "Research on application of artificial intelligence (AI) to use of chest X-ray images in support of COVID-19 diagnosis in Vietnam", which aims to integrate more functions into DrAid to help with COVID-19 patients' prognosis assessment.

On August 18, 2020, the research was assessed and accepted by the Scientific and Technological Council of the Ministry of Health. The council concluded that the research would be useful and practical in support of COVID-19 patients' prognosis assessment in hospital and health facilities in Vietnam.

Photo caption: Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long (L) receives DrAidTM software from Vingroup (Photo: VietnamPlus).

Besides assisting doctors in diagnosing 12 signs, including No abnormality, Large cardiac silhouette, Dimmed air storage, Condensed damage, Block/Mark on lung, Pleural effusion, Pneumothorax, Bone fractures, Medical devices, Fibrosis, Other problems with pleura, Other abnormal signs, DrAid^TM can identify abnormalities and position damages related to COVID-19 on upright chest X-ray images.

DrAid^TM features four superior functions in COVID-19 identification and treatment based on upright chest X-ray films. These functions include Rapid identification of abnormalities in less than 5 seconds; Improvement of accuracy of test results and reduction of false negative test results when combined with PCR test; Assistance in patient prognosis assessment based on history of X-ray films for appropriate therapies; Assistance in enhancement of treatment consistency and knowledge transfer from central-level doctors to grassroots-level doctors.

According to Vingroup Deputy Chairman and CEO Nguyen Viet Quang, following mastering ventilator production technologies and the successful research and development of coronavirus test kits, DrAid^TM is a high-tech medical product that applies AI to give timely support to detect and treat COVID-19 patients.

Human resource and financial resources of VinBrain are now ready for direct deployment of DrAid^TM in hospitals and health facilities nationwide, of which, the "center of pandemic" which is Da Nang and central provinces, will get priority in receiving the software, Quang said./.