How Delft Imaging is transforming health with its innovation

They combine technological innovation with a commitment to compassion, tackling some of the world's most persistent health challenges. From its headquarters in the Netherlands, Delft Imaging has become a pioneer in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to improve healthcare access and outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. As CEO Guido Geerts explains, “We didn't get into this just to make a profit. We felt we had a responsibility to contribute to the world.”

Purpose-driven innovation

The company’s journey began with an urgent global health issue: tuberculosis (TB). Each year, TB claims the lives of approximately 1.5 million people, largely in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure. Recognizing the shortage of trained radiologists in many of these areas, Delft Imaging invested in developing AI-based solutions for chest X-ray analysis. Fifteen years ago, the idea of using artificial intelligence for medical imaging was virtually unheard of. Today, thanks in large part to Delft’s pioneering work, AI-driven TB screening is a standard tool worldwide. The technology has enabled large-scale screening programs, finding tens of thousands of TB cases that would otherwise have gone undiagnosed, and proving that innovation can drive life-saving impact.

Maternal health

Building on its success with tuberculosis, Delft Imaging turned its attention to another pressing issue: maternal mortality. Each year, around 300,000 women die during pregnancy and childbirth, many from preventable complications. Geerts and his team saw an opportunity to innovate again, using AI to help predict and prevent obstetric emergencies. The result is the "BabyChecker," a groundbreaking solution that allows healthcare workers with minimal training to conduct ultrasound scans. Using a simple probe and smartphone, BabyChecker assesses key risk factors such as fetal position, twin pregnancies, and placenta previa, a leading cause of maternal hemorrhage. “The BabyChecker didn’t exist anywhere in the world before we created it,” Geerts explains. “We invested years and significant resources without a clear business model because we knew it could save lives.” BabyChecker has already saved lives in low-resource settings, with healthcare workers reporting cases where the technology identified critical conditions that would otherwise have gone unnoticed.

Building sustainable models

Unlike NGOs, Delft Imaging operates without external funding, relying instead on a self-sustaining business model. This independence, Geerts believes, is a strength: “When your funding is uncertain, it’s hard to maintain focus on your mission. Having a sustainable business model allows us to keep innovating for impact.” Developing sustainability, however, is not without challenges. For products like BabyChecker, reaching financial breakeven will require widespread adoption. Delft is exploring creative solutions, such as modest user fees for AI analyses, allowing healthcare workers to access life-saving technology while building a sustainable service model.

Global Reach, local impact

Today, Delft Imaging operates in 85 countries across Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Their partnerships span governments, ministries of health, and major funding organizations such as the Global Fund, the World Bank, and various agencies. Geerts emphasizes the importance of these relationships: “We work directly with ministries and funders to maximize our impact. Collaboration is key.” Delft’s commitment to public-private collaboration is one of the reasons they joined the Global Health Hub Netherlands. Introduced to the Hub through contacts at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Delft saw immediate value in the Hub's mission to connect stakeholders across sectors. “It used to be that private companies were seen as out of place in global health,” says Geerts. “But that thinking has shifted. Now, collaboration between NGOs, governments, and businesses is essential.”

The power of networks

Being part of the Global Health Hub has already opened new doors for Delft Imaging. Participation in Hub events has facilitated connections with key stakeholders, including representatives from the Global Fund and Dutch ministries. “The Hub is a platform that helps us amplify the impact of innovations like BabyChecker,” Geerts notes. One of its collaborations is with Global Health partner PSI, who helped Delft Imaging to get a foot on the ground in rural Africa to spread further knowledge about the BabyChecker. In a field where reaching local markets can be a slow and complex process, these partnerships are invaluable. Geerts is particularly hopeful that through the Hub’s network, more funding and partnerships can be secured to expand the reach of BabyChecker and other innovations to the communities that need them most.

Looking ahead: continuing to innovate

In addition to maternal health, Delft Imaging is exploring new applications for its imaging technology, including non-invasive diagnostics for vascular diseases in Western primary care settings. These innovations could support healthcare systems globally while also generate revenue to subsidize life-saving technologies in lower-income countries. Ultimately, Guido Geerts remains motivated by the human impact of their work. “When you get a call from a doctor in Zambia who says, 'Because of your technology, we saved a mother and her child,' that’s when you know it’s all worth it.”

Visit the website of Delft Imaging