Armed Forces Medical Services, AIIMS-RPC and MoHFW launch India’s first AI-driven community screening programme for Diabetic Retinopathy

Key facts

• MadhuNetrAI, a web-based AI tool developed by Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, enables screening, accurate grading and triaging of retinal images captured through handheld fundus cameras.
• The initiative will generate real-time data on prevalence, case numbers, and geographic distribution of Diabetic Retinopathy to guide manpower planning and resource allocation.
• Seven pilot sites—Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, Dharamshala, Gaya, Jorhat, and Kochi—represent urban, rural, hilly and coastal geographies for inclusive AI-driven eye health delivery.
• Trained Medical Officers and Nursing staff will conduct large-scale community screening in resource-limited settings using handheld fundus cameras integrated with MadhuNetrAI.
• Patients detected with vision-threatening Diabetic Retinopathy will be referred to vitreoretina specialists at designated District Hospitals, coordinated by District Health Administration.