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The Eyebetes Foundation, in partnership with Forus Health, has launched a pilot program to provide free health screenings at two major Mumbai locations during the Ganpati festival. The initiative, taking place at the Siddhivinayak Temple and the GSB Ganpati Mandal, aims to reach more than 15,000 devotees with diabetes screenings and eye health assessments.
The program utilizes Forus Health’s AI-enabled retinal screening technology, known as FH-POISE AI. This system analyzes retinal images to estimate HbA1c levels and identify potential diabetes risks without the need for blood draws or laboratory processing. According to the organizations, the retina offers a non-invasive view of the body’s microvascular system, allowing AI models to detect structural changes associated with diabetes that may not be visible during standard examinations.
Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan, Chief Technology Officer and Head of Research and Development at Forus Health, stated that the technology is designed to provide insights that traditionally require blood tests. He noted that the AI models can flag diabetes risk from a single retinal image, offering a potential alternative for individuals who face barriers to conventional testing, such as cost, lack of laboratory access, or geographical distance.
Dr. Nishant Kumar, a consultant ophthalmologist and founder of the Eyebetes Foundation, emphasized that while the technology is promising for community-based healthcare, it is intended to complement rather than replace conventional blood testing and clinical diagnosis. He stated that the initiative aims to explore how retinal imaging can support early identification of individuals who may require further medical evaluation.
The organizers noted that the health insights provided during the screenings are for awareness and preliminary risk assessment purposes. They advised that the results should not be considered a substitute for formal clinical diagnosis or consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. The pilot is intended to demonstrate the scalability of using AI-driven retinal imaging in high-footfall community settings to improve access to preventive healthcare.
Article source: www.indiagazette.com | Image credit: www.indiagazette.com
