Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in the healthcare sector, and doctors at AIIMS, New Delhi have developed a new app to test patients with respiratory illnesses. Named the SWAASA App, it has been approved by AIIMS doctors for the diagnosis of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after being tested on 460 patients. The app requires patients to record their cough and delivers a report within eight minutes. It was also showcased at the International AI Impact Summit 2026.
The SWAASA App has been featured as an innovation case study at the International AI Impact Summit 2026, being held at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. Harshal Ramesh Salve, Additional Professor at the Centre for Community Medicine, AIIMS, said the AI-based application can be run on a mobile phone. It was developed by a private company, while its efficacy was tested at AIIMS, New Delhi.
He added that SWAASA was evaluated against the gold-standard spirometry test at AIIMS and was found to be moderately effective. After trials involving 460 patients at AIIMS, it was found to be suitable for detecting respiratory diseases at the primary and secondary care levels. By analysing patient-provided information and the sound of a cough, the app determines whether the patient has asthma or COPD.