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Kerala is teaming up with Remidio and AI for faster ophthalmic diagnoses, smarter referrals and a bold new era for eye care.
On Feb. 18, the government of Kerala (India), in partnership with Remidio (Bangalore, India), launched Nayanamritham 2.0, the world’s first government-led AI-assisted screening program for three chronic eye diseases: diabetic retinopathy (DR), glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The initiative aims to enhance early detection and improve access to eye care across the state.
“The Kerala Government has been a pioneer in integrating technology into public health. With Nayanamritham 2.0, Kerala becomes the first government public health system in the world to adopt AI for chronic eye disease screening,” said Remidio CEO Anand Sivaraman in a news release.
“By integrating Remidio’s 3-in-1 AI into existing workflows, we are making eye screenings more efficient, accessible and affordable.”
Under the initiative, optometrists are equipped with Remidio’s AI-powered fundus cameras, which can classify cases as referable or non-referable in real time. The goal is to streamline the diagnostic process and facilitate faster referrals, ensuring timely intervention for patients.
“AI isn’t here to replace healthcare providers—it’s here to empower them,” emphasized Dr. Bipin Gopal, director of the Government of Kerala’s Directorate of Health Services (DHS). “By leveraging ethical AI, we are enabling optometrists to detect routine cases with AI-powered cameras, while ophthalmologists can focus on advanced cases, delivering the highest quality care where it’s needed most.”
Expanding AI integration in eye screening
Nayanamritham 2.0 builds on the foundation of its predecessor, Nayanamritham 1.0, which introduced AI-supported DR screening at family health centers.
Dr. Sobha Sivaprasad shares his thoughts on the Nayanamritham program.
In this next phase, the program incorporates screenings for glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and extends to community health centers, taluk hospitals and district hospitals, making comprehensive eye care available at every level of Kerala’s healthcare system. The second iteration has also been refined with expert interpretation by ophthalmologists at secondary and tertiary centers.
A model for AI-driven public health
By integrating AI into routine screenings, Kerala is setting a precedent for how ophthalmic AI can be embedded in clinical workflows. The initiative is expected to make screening programs more scalable and cost-effective, improving early detection rates and reducing preventable blindness.
“This initiative showcases the transformative power of collaboration between the government and Indian health technology innovators all driven by a shared goal: improving lives,” Mr. Sivaraman said.
