Dhaka: A US-based company has announced plans to introduce a "revolutionary" portable AI-powered ultrasound device in Bangladesh, marking a significant step forward in the country's healthcare landscape. Officials from the company, Exo Imaging, led by its co-founders Yusuf Haque and Sandeep Akkaraju, met with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today at the State Guest House Jamuna to discuss the groundbreaking technology and its potential impact.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Yusuf Haque, a Bangladeshi-origin US medical technology expert and Exo's Chief Technology Officer, stated that the company plans to roll out the device initially in leading hospitals across Bangladesh, with a long-term vision to expand access to rural and community healthcare centers. Haque emphasized the device's portability and efficiency, aiming to make high-quality diagnostics more accessible, especially in remote areas.
Sandeep Akkaraju, Chief Executive Officer of Exo, highlighted that Bangladesh is the first country in Asia to adopt this technology, which is currently only available in the United States under approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Akkaraju also mentioned plans to launch the device in Mexico and several Latin American countries soon.
The AI-powered portable ultrasound device is designed to assist in the early detection of various conditions, including heart disease, tuberculosis, breast cancer, lung disease, thyroid issues, and pregnancy-related complications. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus welcomed the initiative as a major step toward achieving universal healthcare access, noting the potential to reduce the burden on patients by bringing diagnostics closer to them.
Omar Ishrak, a board member at Exo, commented on the device's potential to transform healthcare access, noting that around 80 percent of the world's population lacks access to quality healthcare. He emphasized the device's role in providing instant, AI-driven diagnostic insights, making it akin to a next-generation stethoscope.
Akkaraju further shared that Exo is developing complementary software to help healthcare workers prioritize patients, send follow-up reminders, and streamline communication between patients and providers, marking the next stage of telemedicine.
The meeting was attended by several officials, including Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Sayedur Rahman, BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, and Senior Secretary for SDG Affairs Lamiya Morshed.