IBM Watson Health announced it roll out its Watson for Oncology system in up to 150 Chinese hospitals this year. The cognitive computing system is able to assist doctors in the diagnosis of some common cancers.
The company made the announcement at an artificial intelligence (AI) summit held in Chongqing on May 7.
Watson for Oncology can help physicians quickly identify key information in a patient’s medical record, surface relevant articles and explore treatment options, to reduce unwanted variation of care and give time back to their patients.
Cancer is a leading cause of death in China with an increasing incidence. According to the National Cancer Institute, there were 4.3 million new cancer cases, and more than 2.8 million deaths attributed to the disease in 2015.
John Edwards, the UK trade commissioner for China, praised Chongqing over its rise as a burgeoning center in intelligent manufacturing.