USAID supports Qure.ai with Rs. 2.45 crore fund to scale AI enabled chest X-ray screening software

New Delhi: The SAMRIDH Healthcare Blended Financing Facility, supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by IPE Global, has committed 2.45 Crore INR ($350,000 USD) to Qure.ai to scale Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled chest X-ray screening software, qXR, in 50 sites across more than 15 Indian states.

The software will enable healthcare workers in the dual screening of COVID-19 and lung diseases such as Tuberculosis, in remote and resource-challenged locations, and will benefit an estimated 62,500 people in the next 12-14 months.

Qure.ai is a leading health-tech firm that builds AI-powered solutions focusing on pulmonary and neurocritical care to deliver better patient outcomes. Qure.ai’s CE-approved qXR software not only detects 30 critical lung abnormalities in under a minute, but can also quantify the infection, giving healthcare workers real-time insights into disease progression. As a result, it provides instant diagnostic support and actionable insights for frontline healthcare workers while optimizing resources and strengthening community care.

The USAID-supported SAMRIDH Blended Finance Facility, through partnerships with organizations including Qure.ai, aims to advance its mission to scale market-based solutions and build sustainable and resilient healthcare systems for India. SAMRIDH offers both grant and debt financing provision to healthcare enterprises and innovators to improve their capacity for production and supply of high impact health solutions that can be scaled rapidly to meet health challenges posed by the pandemic and future crises. This is complemented with a strong technical assistance and capacity building component, enabling enterprises to unlock new sources of capital through blended financing solutions, while ensuring long-term sustainability and expansion.

Speaking about this partnership, Himanshu Sikka, Project Director, SAMRIDH said, “We welcome the opportunity to support Qure.ai in expanding its AI-led solution to detect COVID-19 and lung diseases. It is faster, accurate, cost-effective, and will truly transform diagnostics in primary healthcare settings. Through this collaboration, we reinforce our commitment to drive greater investments in market solutions that combine technology and innovation to improve access to quality and affordable healthcare services for vulnerable populations.”

Prashant Warier, CEO and Founder of Qure.ai said, “We are pleased to receive this support from USAID and IPE Global Limited. Our AI technology for chest X-ray screening and interpretation can better the lives of patients and medical personnel. Remote locations in India struggle for resources to deal with highly transmissible infectious diseases like Tuberculosis and COVID-19. Our AI solution will significantly improve diagnosis, treatment, and patient health. I believe it can pave the way for the deployment of advanced healthcare solutions in more public health settings.”