AstraZeneca Pharma India has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Telangana to roll out AI-powered lung cancer screening across public healthcare facilities, marking a significant step in the use of digital diagnostics for early cancer detection in the state.

Under the partnership, Qure.ai’s AI-enabled chest X-ray solution will be integrated into routine workflows at 20 public health facilities, helping clinicians flag high-risk pulmonary nodules—an early precursor to lung cancer, along with 29 other lung conditions.

The initiative will cover both urban and rural health systems and include training, upskilling, and infrastructure support for healthcare professionals to ensure sustainable adoption. Similar public-sector models have already been implemented in Goa, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. 

The collaboration comes as lung cancer incidence in India continues to rise, driven by tobacco use, environmental pollution, and the lack of routine screening. Industry and public health estimates suggest a 27% rise in cases over the decade to 2025, while a majority of patients are still diagnosed at advanced stages, sharply limiting curative treatment options.

For Telangana, the initiative aligns with the state’s broader healthcare modernisation agenda, where AI-led cancer screening pilots are already being evaluated for wider deployment across medical colleges and district hospitals. 

Commenting on the development, Praveen Rao Akkinepally, Country President & Managing Director, AstraZeneca Pharma India, said the partnership reflects the company’s broader commitment to expanding access to innovative healthcare solutions and bringing early diagnosis closer to underserved communities.

The rollout is expected to strengthen stage-shift diagnosis, enabling high-risk patients to be triaged earlier for confirmatory testing and follow-up, which could materially improve survival outcomes while reducing long-term burden on the public health system.