Written by : Jayati Dubey
October 18, 2024
Wadhwani AI’s technology allows optometrists and field investigators to screen for diabetic retinopathy in its early stages, increasing the likelihood of early intervention.
Wadhwani AI, recognized as an AI Centre of Excellence (CoE) by the Government of India, has partnered with AIIMS New Delhi to revolutionize healthcare through artificial intelligence.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in India’s ongoing efforts to leverage AI for healthcare innovation, with a focus on improving diagnostics and patient care across the country.
Wadhwani AI has been at the forefront of developing a range of AI-powered solutions aimed at early detection and diagnosis of various diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, pulmonary conditions, and skin diseases.
These advanced technologies will be scaled across India’s healthcare system through collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The initiative is set to bring AI-driven diagnostics to both primary and secondary healthcare facilities, ensuring more timely and accurate care for patients.
One of the key AI solutions developed by Wadhwani AI focuses on diabetic retinopathy (DR), a major cause of preventable blindness in India. DR often remains undetected, particularly in rural areas with limited access to specialized eye care.
Wadhwani AI’s technology allows optometrists and field investigators to screen for DR in its early stages, increasing the likelihood of early intervention.
Patients with suspected cases can then be referred to specialists at AIIMS or other tertiary care centers for further treatment, improving patient outcomes.
Wadhwani AI has also developed AI models to assist in interpreting chest X-rays (CXRs), which are crucial for diagnosing a variety of pulmonary conditions.
Since CXRs account for nearly 40% of all medical imaging scans, this AI tool serves as an additional resource for radiologists, helping them prioritize urgent cases and improve diagnostic accuracy.
Through the collaboration with AIIMS Delhi, this technology will be expanded to address multiple lung conditions, ensuring faster and more precise diagnoses for patients.
Nakul Jain, Director of Products and Design at Wadhwani AI, expressed the importance of this collaboration, stating, "India has the potential to lead the world in AI innovation. With the right talent and ecosystem, we can create scalable solutions that not only benefit our country but have global implications. This Centre of Excellence at AIIMS is a key step in that journey, and we’re excited to shape the future of healthcare alongside them."
In another recent development, AIIMS-Delhi announced to launch of a weekly outpatient department (OPD) to educate patients on their medical treatment preferences in case they lose decision-making capacity due to accidents or terminal illnesses.
Led by the Dr B R Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, this initiative follows the Union Health Ministry's draft "Guidelines for Withdrawal of Life Support in Terminally Ill Patients."
The OPD will counsel registered patients about Advance Medical Directives (AMD), a legal document allowing individuals to specify their preferred medical treatment if they become unable to make decisions.
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