# AI retina camera screens 11,000 for diabetes at Mumbai Ganpati 2026-09-19T18:31:56+00:00 | Health & Science | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Over 11,000 Mumbaikars have been screened for diabetes at two Ganpati venues in Mumbai using a needle-free AI-powered retina camera. The camps, organised by Eyebetes Foundation and Forus Healthcare at Siddhivinayak Temple and GSB Seva Mandal in King's Circle, use a fundus camera to capture an image of the retina, from which AI estimates the HbA1c level in about two minutes. Analysis of the first 5,000 screenings found 39.7% had abnormal HbA1c results, indicating diabetes. Dr Nishant Kumar of Eyebetes Foundation said this is the first time such technology has been used for a screening in India. The AI model was initially trained on international datasets and later refined with Indian data, including from over 30,000 people screened during the Maha Kumbh. The team expects to collect 15,000-20,000 more retinal images during the Ganpati season. Dr Kumar said the method could help those reluctant to undergo blood tests. India has an estimated 150 million diabetics, with many undiagnosed or poorly controlled. ## Indian Opinion Analysis India's diabetes burden is the world's largest, with an estimated 101.5 million diagnosed cases as per a 2023 ICMR study. The AI retina camera addresses a key barrier: the reluctance to undergo blood tests. If the upcoming 15,000-20,000 images validate the model's accuracy against standard HbA1c blood tests, this method could scale to routine screening at temples, railway stations and other high-footfall public places. The next step is publishing the Ganpati camp results in a peer-reviewed journal to establish clinical confidence. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: AI, diabetes, Eyebetes Foundation, Forus Healthcare, Ganpati, Mumbai Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/ai-retina-camera-screens-11000-for-diabetes-at-mumbai-ganpati/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/ai-retina-camera-screens-11000-for-diabetes-at-mumbai-ganpati/#story-in-brief