This AI App Can Detect TB, Asthma Using a 15-Second Cough Test
Swaasa uses artificial intelligence to analyse a 15-second cough recording and identify signs of TB, asthma, and COVID-19, offering a fast, non-invasive screening tool accessible via smartphones.
What if a simple cough could reveal early signs of serious lung diseases? An Indian AI-powered application is doing exactly that, transforming a 15-second cough recording into clinically meaningful insight and helping bridge critical gaps in respiratory healthcare.
Swaasa: Turning Cough Sounds Into Clinical Insight
Swaasa is a mobile-based AI application that analyses short cough recordings to identify indicators of respiratory conditions such as asthma, tuberculosis (TB), and COVID-19. With a reported accuracy of over 90 percent, the app offers a non-invasive, quick, and accessible screening method that requires nothing more than a smartphone.
Designed for both patients and frontline health workers, Swaasa converts cough sounds into actionable clinical signals, enabling early detection without the need for expensive equipment or specialist intervention.
The Idea That Started It All
The concept behind Swaasa was born in 2017, when three innovators Venkat Yechuri, Narayana Rao Sripada, and Manmohan Jain set out to address a pressing healthcare challenge. In many rural and underserved regions, access to advanced diagnostic tools for lung diseases remains limited or nonexistent.
Their solution was to harness artificial intelligence to analyse cough sounds, a symptom common to many respiratory illnesses, and use it as a reliable diagnostic indicator. The result was a scalable, science-backed tool aimed at bringing quality respiratory screening to the last mile.
Scaling Across Frontline Healthcare
Since its launch, Swaasa has seen rapid adoption across India’s healthcare ecosystem.
- Over 300,000 cough assessments completed
- Widely used for early TB screening and detection
- Adopted by clinicians, ASHA workers, community health camps, and telemedicine platforms
A process that once depended on specialised equipment and trained pulmonologists can now be carried out with a basic smartphone, significantly reducing barriers to early diagnosis.
Supporting India’s National Health Missions
Swaasa plays an active role in strengthening several of India’s flagship health initiatives. The platform supports the National TB Elimination Programme by enabling early identification of TB cases in underserved areas. It also aligns with the National Health Mission by improving access to respiratory care and integrates with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission to embed AI-driven diagnostics into India’s digital health infrastructure.
In remote consultations conducted through eSanjeevani, Swaasa helps clinicians make faster, more informed decisions. Most notably, it contributes to the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan by enabling large-scale, community-level screening and accelerating India’s goal of eliminating TB.
An Atmanirbhar Innovation With National Impact
By combining scientific accuracy, ease of use, and digital scalability, Swaasa represents a significant step forward in AI-led healthcare innovation. Its ability to deliver timely diagnostics at the grassroots level is helping strengthen frontline care and ensure that critical lung disease screening reaches every corner of the country.
As India continues to adopt digital and AI-driven health solutions, tools like Swaasa highlight how simple ideas, when powered by technology, can create outsized impact on public health outcomes.