Ping An Group has announced the roll out of its artificial intelligence-driven “AskBob” clinical decision support system (AskBob CDSS) in the Philippines to support the country’s COVID-19 response efforts.

The insurer’s new system was launched in the Philippines in partnership with Metro Pacific Health Tech Corporation (MPHTC). Patients using the system can access an online portal to fill out a questionnaire, after which a diagnosis algorithm will assess their risk level and suggest an action plan.

Read more: Ping An introduces doctor’s AI assistant in Singapore

If the user is likely to have COVID-19, AskBob CDSS will determine which hospital the patient should go for further testing when required and will transmit the patient’s information and assessment to the online hospital portal, where doctors in the recommended hospital can review it.

If the preliminary test comes out positive, the patient will undergo a computed tomography lung scan to confirm the infection.

“With Ping An Group's advanced healthcare technology, we are committed to supporting the Philippines to identify health risks in an efficient way and protect the community during this time,” said Xie Gutong, chief healthcare scientist at Ping An Group.

Since its launch in 2019, AskBob CDSS has been used in over 17,000 medical institutions in 28 cities across 10 provinces in China.