Google Licenses Diabetic Retinopathy AI for Free Screenings in India and Thailand

Google recently announced the licensing of its diabetic retinopathy AI model to healthcare providers and health-tech partners in India and Thailand, aiming to provide millions of free screenings to underserved communities.

Expanding Access to Eye Care

Over the next decade, partners Forus Health, AuroLab, and Perceptra will work to deliver 6 million AI-supported eye screenings in resource-constrained areas across both countries at no cost to patients.

The Evolution of Google's AI Model

Google’s efforts to use AI for improving eye care began over a decade ago. The goal was to enhance access to diabetic retinopathy screenings, especially for patients without regular access to healthcare services. The AI model, now operational in real-world clinical settings, has already facilitated over 600,000 screenings globally.

A Commitment to Global Health Outcomes

Google emphasized that this partnership underscores their commitment to improving healthcare outcomes on a global scale. By collaborating with local partners, they aim to address the gap in eye screening accessibility, particularly for diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to blindness if undetected.

This initiative highlights the growing role of AI in making essential healthcare services more accessible to those who need them the most.