Pakistan AI Diagnostic System to Expand Healthcare Across 1,100 Hospitals
The Pakistan AI diagnostic system will soon become part of the Prime Minister’s Health Card Programme. The federal government plans to introduce the technology in 1,100 public and private hospitals. The initiative aims to improve disease detection and provide advanced healthcare services to nearly 200 million people across the country.
Officials say the AI platform will support faster and more accurate diagnosis of complex illnesses. For example, it will help identify cancer and neurological disorders at earlier stages. In addition, they expect the technology to reduce diagnostic costs and improve healthcare efficiency. As a result, the government could save billions of rupees while delivering better medical services.
Agreement with Alibaba to Support Project
The government expects to sign an agreement with Alibaba Group next month. The partnership will support the rollout of AI-powered diagnostic services across Pakistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also invited Alibaba’s leadership to visit the country and strengthen healthcare cooperation.
Earlier, the Press Information Department said Alibaba-linked DAMO Academy and Sky47 would help deploy AI disease screening systems. These systems will operate in major cities and support hospitals with advanced diagnostic tools. Therefore, doctors may receive faster information to guide patient care and improve treatment decisions.
Nationwide Expansion Planned
The AI diagnostic platform will expand across Islamabad, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The federal government currently spends about Rs.10 billion each year on the Health Card Programme. Meanwhile, provinces also invest significant funding to improve public healthcare.
Officials believe the project will reduce pressure on hospitals and improve patient outcomes. Separately, Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique said the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research Center will become Pakistan’s first fully free government cancer hospital. Moreover, patients with advanced cancer will receive free treatment without financial barriers.
