National Medical University

India's National Health Authority and the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur will be collaborating to develop an open benchmarking platform for validating AI models. The organisations recently signed a memorandum of understanding to use data to improve public health outcomes. IIT Kanpur will build a platform for publicly verifiable performance benchmarks based on data available in the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). This will be used to validate AI models for quantifying and diagnosing diseases. The university will also build a database that protects against statistical dredging, machine learning models, and a consent management system for researchers, which will all be later transferred to the NHA to operate and maintain. WHY IT MATTERS Union Health Minister Apurva Chandra underscored the lack of available data for verifying AI models in India. "[O]ne of the biggest issues related to AI models in the healthcare sector is the availability and efficacy of disease diagnosis data, which will be tackled by this collaboration." The benchmarking platform being developed will provide researchers with access to high-quality data and a forum to collaborate with others in the health ecosystem. It will also ensure "all aspects" of data privacy, added L.S. Changsan, an additional secretary of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. "[T]his partnership with the NHA will contribute towards democratising access to quality healthcare in India," Manindra Agrawal, professor and director of IIT Kanpur, also commented. THE LARGER TREND The NHA, which runs the ABDM, a national programme launched in 2021 to build the foundations of India's digital health ecosystem, intends to harness publicly available health and healthcare data to develop digital technologies. The ABDM comprises three main blocks: the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) numbers, the Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR), and the Health Facility Registry. A public dashboard was created in 2022 providing a real-time numbers feed of each block. Recently, an upgraded database of registered medical doctors in the country was launched. The new National Medical Register , created under the National Medical Commission Act of 2019, will be part of ABDM under the HPR.

Regulator bars e-prescription of non-OTC drugs in India Indian doctors using telemedicine can only prescribe OTC Drugs, according to the National Medical Commission. Based on the medical profession regulator's latest rules of professional conduct of registered medical practitioners in the country, doctors cannot prescribe via telemedicine drugs classified under Schedule X of the Drug and Cosmetic Act, including anti-cancer drugs. The regulations also frown upon medical practitioners who insist on conducting telemedicine when a patient is willing to travel to a health facility and/or requests an in-person consultation. Meanwhile, the new regulations order doctors to keep digital records, such as patient records, reports, and images, for three years from their patient's last consultation. Hong Kong's Health Department to hasten public health digitalisation The Hong Kong Department of Health has recently tied up with technology incubator Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation to pursue public health digitalisation. Under their memorandum of understanding, they will explore innovative solutions in four areas: health regulatory affairs, health protection and health promotion, health administration, and dental and clinical services. To this end, they will be working on six public health application areas: smart health regulatory functions, smart clinics, smart workflow re-engineering, smart customer services, online engagement, and data collaboration. Their pursuit of new solutions will also allow tech ventures to test their tailor-made solutions in real-life operating settings. UMP to rollout Imsight's AI-assisted CXR analysis tool Hong Kong-listed medical group UMP will soon offer AI-powered medical imaging analysis. The company recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Imsight Technology to deploy the DR-Sight medical imaging solution to its centres in Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland China. The AI-powered technology provides diagnostic support for analysing chest X-rays. It can identify various chest findings, including pneumonia, tuberculosis, pulmonary oedema, and pneumothorax. It is also capable of alerting doctors of suspicious findings, which then enables early interventions.

MUMBAI, India, July 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, HelpMeSee has announced a new partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) Initiative to train 100 new cataract specialists to help restore sight to India's cataract blind. Through this agreement, ASHA has provided funding to deploy two HelpMeSee eye surgery simulators to facilitate training at the HelpMeSee Mumbai Centre of Excellence for Simulation-Based Training. Continue Reading HelpMeSee and USAID: a partnership focused on restoring the gift of sight for people blind or visually impaired due to cataract. Currently, untreated cataract is the cause of 66 percent of all blindness in India, according to the National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey. India has approximately 20,000 ophthalmologists, equating to an average of eight for every million people, which is considerably lower in comparison with higher-income economies. This is compounded by the fact that ophthalmologists are not equally distributed throughout the nation. The cataract blind and visually impaired face significant challenges in finding well-trained specialists to treat them. "The National Medical Commission, India, and The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education share a common goal – to improve patient safety and surgical outcomes through competency-based education as a key component of Best Practices in Medicine," said Saro Jahani, president and CEO of HelpMeSee. "HelpMeSee's simulation-based training brings this innovation to life in India, through technology that allows trainees to practice surgical steps to perfection in a virtual environment with no risks to a live patient. We value our partnership with ASHA as we work together to help restore sight for people in India who are blind due to cataract. With their commitment, we're working to build sustainable solutions that can change lives and restore sight for people suffering from cataract. "For people with treatable cataract blindness, the humanitarian impact of this work cannot be overstated," Jahani said. "Untreated cataract disproportionately impacts the lives of women in rural India. Restoring sight restores their ability to engage in economic opportunities and relieves family members to work full time. The gift of restored sight is priceless. We are proud to be part of this effort to ensure access to care. HelpMeSee's simulator offers full procedural training in Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery, as well as complications management and suturing. We have recently launched training in Phacoemulsification. In near future, HelpMeSee will be able to offer training in anterior vitrectomy, pediatric cataract, and other surgical procedures for the eye." In India, HelpMeSee has established partnerships with LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad to train government hospital doctors and Aravind Eye Hospitals in Madurai, empowering local communities to restore sight. "HelpMeSee's virtual reality, simulation-based training delivers the authentic feeling of touch and visuals that are experienced in live surgery, and the ability to practice over and over, without the risk of mistakes that could permanently damage the sight of a patient," explained HelpMeSee Chief Medical Officer Dr. Van Lansingh. "The technology has applications for both the higher-income economies and the developing world as the next generation of cataract specialists is trained to deliver care for the rapidly aging world population. Seasoned surgeons who have had limited access to live surgery can use it to keep skills fresh." ABOUT HELPMESEE In a world where 100 million people are blind or visually impaired due to cataract, HelpMeSee works to eradicate cataract blindness using virtual reality and simulation-based training. The nonprofit was founded by Al and Jim Ueltschi, who saw the opportunity to end suffering by delivering innovation from the aviation industry to the fight against cataract blindness. As co-founder of Orbis International and founder of FlightSafety International, Al Ueltschi was an icon in the aviation industry, devoted to treating preventable blindness in the developing world. Today, his legacy lives on through HelpMeSee. The organization trains cataract specialists to ensure that all communities, especially those with severe economic hardship, have access to cataract treatment as a human right to sight. With more than 40 simulators and 11 training centers worldwide, HelpMeSee partners with governments, universities, and innovators to fight the global cataract blindness crisis. For more information, visit . ABOUT USAID USAID is the world's premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. USAID works to help lift lives, build communities, and advance democracy. USAID's work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity; demonstrates American generosity; and promotes a path to recipient self-reliance and resilience. For more information, visit . Media Contact: Kelley Denny 412-352-9240 [email protected] SOURCE HelpMeSee