Ulaanbaatar
GeneXpert Diagnostic System Introduced to Rural and District Hospitals
Society
Ulaanbaatar, November 5, 2025 /MONTSAME/. Portable digital X-ray devices powered by artificial intelligence for diagnosing tuberculosis were handed over to soum health centers, rural general hospitals, and district general hospitals on November 4, 2025.
The equipment, worth MNT 1.5 billion, was
provided with support from the Global Fund’s Tuberculosis/HIV Project. The
GeneXpert diagnostic system is based on molecular biology technology, enabling
rapid detection of tuberculosis (TB) and drug resistance. Laboratory
specialists from the recipient health institutions have received hands-on
training at the National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD).
Introducing these diagnostic devices to rural
and remote soum health centers will enhance the capacity and accessibility of
TB diagnosis while promoting decentralization of diagnostic services.
Mongolia first introduced the GeneXpert
molecular diagnostic technology in 2013 at the NCCD’s National Tuberculosis
Reference Laboratory. Since then, the system has been expanded to aimag and
district health centers, regional diagnostic and treatment centers, general
hospitals, and specialized institutions such as the National Center for
Maternal and Child Health, the National Center of Mental Health, and the National
Cancer Center. The introduction of this test has strengthened Mongolia’s TB
diagnostic capacity and enabled early detection and differentiation of
rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis.
Despite global efforts, tuberculosis remains one of the most pressing infectious diseases worldwide. Mongolia is among the 30 countries with a high TB burden, reporting over 3,000 cases and 150–200 deaths annually.
