**Executive Summary**
The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), in collaboration with AIIMS and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), launched India's first AI-driven community screening program for Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) on December 16, 2025, in New Delhi. The program aims to strengthen early detection of diabetic eye disease and establish a national health intelligence framework. A compendium detailing the methodology and operational guidelines was released at the launch.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Program Overview:**
* India's first Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven community screening program for Diabetic Retinopathy (DR).
* Launched on December 16, 2025, in New Delhi.
* Collaboration between AFMS, AIIMS, and MoHFW.
* Utilizes a web-based AI tool called MadhuNetrAI developed by the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences (RPC).
* Facilitates automated screening, grading, and triaging of retinal images.
* Generates real-time data on disease prevalence and geographic distribution.
* **Implementation:**
* Pilot phase to be implemented at seven locations: Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Dharamshala, Gaya, Jorhat, and Kochi.
* Personnel from each site will undergo intensive training at RPC, AIIMS.
* **Patient Management:**
* Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy will be referred for optimal management.
* Cases of vision-threatening Diabetic Retinopathy will be referred to vitreo-retina specialists at designated District Hospitals.
* District Health Administrations will coordinate referral mechanisms and integrate DR management within existing non-communicable disease programs.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), AIIMS, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW)**
* **Impact:** The collaborative initiative enhances public health systems and demonstrates the integration of AI-enabled solutions in healthcare.
* **Action Required:** Continue to collaborate on the implementation and scaling of the program, adhering to the operational guidelines in the compendium.
**Stakeholder: Medical Officers, Nursing Staff, and Healthcare Assistants**
* **Impact:** The web-based AI tool will enable community-level screening for Diabetic Retinopathy.
* **Action Required:** Undergo training at RPC, AIIMS, to effectively utilize the MadhuNetrAI platform and conduct screenings.
**Stakeholder: Patients with or at risk of Diabetic Retinopathy**
* **Impact:** The program facilitates early detection and management of diabetic eye disease, potentially preventing vision loss.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the screening program when available in their community.
**Stakeholder: District Health Administrations**
* **Impact:** Involved in coordinating referral mechanisms and integrating DR management into existing non-communicable disease programs.
* **Action Required:** Develop and implement referral pathways for patients identified with Diabetic Retinopathy, integrating the program with existing healthcare services.
Key Entities Referenced
Diabetic Retinopathy: A diabetes complication that affects eyes.
AFMS: Armed Forces Medical Services, implementing community screening for Diabetic Retinopathy.
AIIMS: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, collaborating in the AI-driven community screening for Diabetic Retinopathy.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare: Collaborating with AFMS and AIIMS for the AI-driven community screening program.
MadhuNetrAI: The web-based Artificial Intelligence tool used for automated screening for diabetic retinopathy.
Ministry of Defence
AFMS Launches India’s First AI-Driven
Community Screening Programme for Diabetic
Retinopathy
प्रव तथ: 16 DEC 2025 6:02PM by PIB Delhi
The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), in collaboration with the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for
Ophthalmic Sciences (RPC), AIIMS, and the eHealth AI Unit of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
(MoHFW), has launched India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI)–driven community screening programme
for Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) on December 16, 2025 in New Delhi. The initiative marks a significant
step towards strengthening early detection of diabetic eye disease and building a real-time national health
intelligence framework.
The programme was inaugurated at Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi, by Director
General Armed Forces Medical Services Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin along with Chief, Dr. Rajendra
Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences Prof Radhika Tandon. The collaboration brings together the
clinical reach of AFMS, academic leadership of AIIMS and digital innovation capabilities of MoHFW to
address a major public health challenge.
Anchored by MadhuNetrAI, the programme is a web-based Artificial Intelligence tool developed by the
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences (RPC). The platform facilitates automated screening,
grading and triaging of retinal images captured using handheld fundus cameras, enabling trained Medical
Officers, Nursing Staff and healthcare assistants to undertake community-level screening. The system also
generates real-time data on disease prevalence and geographic distribution to support evidence-based
planning and policy formulation.
As part of the pilot phase, the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) will implement the initiative at
seven locations—Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Dharamshala, Gaya, Jorhat and Kochi—covering
metropolitan, rural, hilly, coastal and remote regions. Personnel from each site will undergo intensive
training at RPC, AIIMS, followed by large-scale community screening.
Patients identified with Diabetic Retinopathy will be referred for optimal diabetic management, while
cases of vision-threatening Diabetic Retinopathy will be referred to vitreo-retina specialists at designated
District Hospitals. District Health Administrations will coordinate referral mechanisms and integrate DR
management within existing non-communicable disease programmes to ensure continuity of care.
A Compendium detailing the methodology and operational guidelines of the programme was released at
the launch. The contribution of HOD & Consultant Ophthalmology, Army Hospital (R&R) Brig S K
Mishra, in establishing the collaboration was acknowledged. The initiative is envisaged as a scalable and
replicable model, demonstrating effective integration of AI-enabled solutions into public health systems
through the combined efforts of AFMS, AIIMS and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.SR/NIRMIT
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इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही