Key facts
- Neko Health uses AI and 2,000 photographs to create a 3D body avatar for health screening.
- The service screens for skin cancer, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other conditions.
- One patient's scan missed cancerous lesions, while another received an early diabetes diagnosis.
- Neko Health reports that 1.2% of scans detect life-threatening conditions.
- NHS doctors caution against private scans, citing potential over-diagnosis and unnecessary anxiety.
A full-body health MOT using AI-powered scanning technology has emerged as a new frontier in preventative healthcare, but its efficacy and potential for causing anxiety are subjects of debate. The process involves standing in a scanner while 70 cameras capture over 2,000 images of the body to create a 3D avatar, analyzing for various health conditions including skin cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
Companies like Neko Health, which charges £299 for its scan, have seen a surge in demand, with hundreds of thousands on waiting lists. Hjalmar Nilsonne, a co-founder of Neko Health, champions this approach, stating that prevention is preferable to cure and that primary care needs modernization. However, general practitioners and the NHS express skepticism, warning that these private scans can lead to over-diagnosis, unnecessary investigations, and avoidable anxiety for patients.
Experiences with the technology vary significantly. Annabel Mason-Thompson reported that Neko Health's AI scanner failed to detect four cancerous lesions on her body, which were only identified after she pointed them out to a doctor. Further examination revealed three more cancerous marks requiring treatment. Neko Health stated that its clinical team did identify a 'lesion of concern' and that multiple layers of review, including human expertise, are crucial.
Conversely, Mehvish, a 33-year-old, received a life-changing diagnosis of Latent Autoimmune Diabetes from her scan, a condition she had no symptoms for. She credits the early intervention with saving her life. Neko Health's data indicates that 1.2% of scans detect life-threatening conditions, and a further 4% identify significant health issues requiring further treatment.
The reporter undergoing the scan discovered 3,311 skin markings, significantly higher than the average, with three flagged for further review by a dermatologist. An unusual heart rate detected by an ECG was also referred to a cardiologist and later cleared. While the reporter's skin issues ultimately required no treatment, the experience highlights the potential for flagged issues to cause concern, a point echoed by doctors who advocate for reliance on established NHS screening programs.