BAGUIO Councilor Benny Bomogao is questioning the effectivity of the AI scans from Japan and is asking Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong to review the proposed agreements.
Bomogao said the lack of certifications may give the public an added burden if and when the AI scans will be made mandatory.
He said he hopes Magalong reviews the memorandum of agreement set to be signed and stressed the City Council has not ratified the agreement.
"This [technology] is not yet proven," said Bomogao, citing findings of medical experts who relayed sentiments to the legislative body.
If the agreement pushes through, all those going through the triage may be required to undergo the AI scans for a price.
Radiologist Ray Anthony Leung said the Philippine College of Radiologists finds the additional x-rays unnecessary and warns the proposed technology is not a screening for Covid - 19, cautioning results may be a misdiagnosis.
"This needs further research study," said Leung.
An additional P385 will be charged to those availing of the x-ray scans if approved.
Leung said the company operated at the Baguio Convention Center conducting trials and several x-rays, but have not submitted to radiologists results for counter checking or validation.
"Di po naming nakita. We are afraid they are providing x-ray results without any radiologists that signs out the result, we do not want that to happen in the meantime," Leung added.
Leung said the company failed to submit results of the trial to radiologists despite requests nor a research study conducted elsewhere and a proof of concept.
NTT Data Corporation has offered an AI-powered public health solution, which can help the city fight the pandemic with the Japanese technology "Genki Medical Imaging."
Genki Medical Imaging is an AI-based solution for public health screening and efficient pandemic management to speed up Covid detection at triage points, boasting x-ray results to be processed in minutes.
The Japanese technology takes X-ray and CT scans with AI, which interprets, detects and predicts highly suspects for Covid-19 and 17 other pathologies in the lungs and automatically triage patients in a "speedy and a cost-effective way."
The technology covers 17 different chest pathologies and can be used at hospitals or in mobile X-Ray as it analyses scans within minutes to categorize patients into those needing home quarantine or hospitalization -- with isolation or without isolation.