Indonesia creates AI-driven system for malaria detection

Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is developing an artificial intelligence system designed to revolutionisemalaria diagnosis, as part of the nation’s drive to eradicate the disease by 2030. This is reported by Vietnam News Agency (VNA), a partner of TV BRICS. 

Anto Satriyo Nugroho, Director of the Centre for AI and Cybersecurity Research at BRIN, announced that researchers have trained the AI model on over 1,300 microscopic images of blood samples infected with malaria parasites.

Early testing indicates that the system can accurately identify infected erythrocytes, classify parasite species, and determine developmental stages. The model has achieved an overall accuracy of 80.6 per cent.

As Nugroho explained, AI analyses the characteristic morphology of four malaria parasite species across various lifecycle stages. However, the parasites’ continuous morphological transformation remains a significant hurdle to improving diagnostic precision.

According to the World Health Organisation, Indonesia recorded approximately 500,000 malaria cases in 2024. Nearly 88 per cent of these infections were reported in Papua, underscoring the urgent need for rapid, reliable diagnostic tools in high-risk regions.

BRIN’s AI initiative forms part of a broader national strategy that combines innovative technology, expanded healthcare access, and community engagement to drive down transmission rates. If optimised and deployed widely, the AI diagnostic system could reduce reliance on labor-intensive microscopy and accelerate treatment decisions by 2030.

Next steps include scaling up trials across provincial health laboratories, refining the algorithm to account for parasite variability, and integrating the tool into Indonesia’s public health infrastructure. Officials hope that this homegrown AI solution will serve as a model for other endemic countries seeking to harness technology in the fight against malaria.

In other BRICS countries, AI is also widely used in medicine. For instance, a specialised software at the Moscow Centre for Diagnostics and Telemedicine Technologies processes X-ray images, enabling physicians to interpret over 100,000 scans weekly. This is reported by TV BRICS. 

Iran plans to slash healthcare expenses by up to 40 per cent, through adopting artificial intelligence technologies, according to Tehran Times, a partner of TV BRICS. The nation faces substantial healthcare spending, especially on chronic disease management, and is turning to AI-driven solutions as a vital means to cut costs and boost system efficiency.

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