Andhra Pradesh Launches AI Pilot for Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Gov Hospitals
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With AI-assisted analysis, trained optometrists will be able to screen patients and refer those requiring urgent medical attention, helping to improve early detection and intervention.
The government of Andhra Pradesh has launched a pilot programme using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect diabetic retinopathy, a common eye complication associated with diabetes, in government hospitals.
Announced by Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav, the initiative is being introduced at government hospitals in Guntur, Kurnool, and Visakhapatnam.
Under the programme, fundus camera images of patients' eyes will be analysed using AI systems to assess the severity of diabetic retinopathy and identify cases requiring specialist consultation. The approach is expected to support screening efforts in settings where access to ophthalmologists may be limited.
With AI-assisted analysis, trained optometrists will be able to screen patients and refer those requiring urgent medical attention, helping to improve early detection and intervention.
According to officials, diabetic retinopathy affects nearly 20 per cent of people living with diabetes and can lead to blurred vision, nerve damage, or retinal detachment if left untreated. At Guntur Government General Hospital, around 3,000 diabetes patients visit every month, with an estimated 15–20 per cent showing signs of retinopathy.
The pilot programme commenced at Guntur Government General Hospital and is scheduled to be extended to Kurnool Regional Hospital and Visakhapatnam Regional Eye Hospital. Over the next three months, approximately 9,000 patients are expected to be screened across the three facilities.
The initiative builds on efforts led by AIIMS Delhi and AIIMS Rishikesh in partnership with the Wadhwani Foundation, which developed the AI solution "Madhunetra."
Trained on data from 13,000 patients, the solution has been deployed across 45 medical colleges in multiple states, including Rajasthan, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, and Bihar.
Officials said the pilot will help evaluate the effectiveness of AI in supporting early diagnosis and timely treatment of diabetic retinopathy. Based on the findings, the state government plans to expand AI-enabled screening to additional healthcare facilities.
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