Fighting diabetes-linked vision loss with AI: 17,873 patients screened under IAS Adarsh Surabhi in Wanaparthy district

After screening 98.4% of the targeted 30-plus population for diabetes under Mission Madhumeha, Wanaparthy district in Telangana has taken the initiative a step further. The focus has now expanded from detecting diabetes to check diabetic patients for eye complications which can negatively affect vision if not detected early.

Leading this is Collector of Wanaparthy, Adarsh Surabhi, a 2018 batch IAS Officer. Under Mission Madhumeha-Drishti, diabetic patients identified in the district are being screened for diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma using portable AI-enabled fundus cameras. Instead of limiting the screening to hospitals, portable cameras are taken into the field to reach identified patients at the community level. The field teams comprise Mid-Level Health Provider (MLHP) doctors, optometrists, ANMs, ASHA workers and Health Assistants. Additionally, the portable cameras also help deal with the shortage of eye-screening facilities in the district.

The initiative has already covered 17,873 diabetic patients or 83.7% of the identified diabetic population. Of those screened, 1,267 people around 7% were detected as suspected cases of diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma and referred to higher medical centres.

The process is simple. Portable cameras are used to take pictures of the patient's retina. AI-based software then helps identify possible signs of eye problems. Suspected cases are sent to ophthalmologists for further examination and treatment.

Another key part of the initiative is the new Wanaparthy Health App. Patients can now access their health reports on their mobile phones through OTP instead of visiting hospitals simply to collect reports. The portal brings together reports related to diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, tuberculosis at one place and supports bilingual access (English and Telugu), allowing rural patients to easily understand their test reports and treatment plans directly on their mobile phones.

The app acts as a unified health record. Doctors at PHCs can use the system to check patient records, follow-up visits, treatment status and investigation reports. This allows patients to be tracked even after the initial screening.

By combining door-to-door screening, AI-assisted eye checks, treatment and digital follow-up, Wanaparthy’s model is setting a new benchmark in government healthcare by not not just catching diabetes but identifying its serious complications before it is too late.