Launch · Healthcare & Life Sciences

Wadhwani AI launches MadhuNetrAI diabetic retinopathy tool

By Startup Enthusiast · 23 February 2026

What they do

Wadhwani AI developed MadhuNetrAI to detect diabetic retinopathy using retinal fundus images

The tool won the AI for ALL Global Impact Challenge at the India AI Impact Summit 2026

It has screened over 10,000 patients across 40 facilities in 11 states to identify urgent cases

Wadhwani AI launched MadhuNetrAI, an artificial intelligence tool for detecting diabetic retinopathy.
The solution won the AI for ALL: Global Impact Challenge at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
The project was built in collaboration with AIIMS New Delhi under Ministry of Health guidance.
It analyzes retinal fundus images to classify the severity of diabetic retinopathy automatically.
The system identifies patients needing timely referral to reduce the risk of vision loss.
Over 4,600 applications from more than 60 countries entered the global competition.
The tool supports nurses and community health officers with image grading and triage tasks.
It enables screening in community settings where easy access to ophthalmologists is not available.

India has over 101 million people with diabetes, creating a massive need for screening tools.
Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of preventable blindness among this large population.
The initiative highlights India's leadership in deploying ethical and clinically validated AI for public systems.

Wadhwani AI is a not-for-profit institute working in health, agriculture, and education sectors.
The company uses datasets reflecting India's diverse population to build its AI solutions.
Its approach focuses on last-mile deployment to reach underserved communities effectively.
The tool has been clinically validated for use in public health settings across India.
It processes retinal images to grade severity and flag urgent cases for specialist review.
The solution helps triage patients who require immediate medical attention to preserve vision.
Deployment occurs across healthcare facilities in districts lacking specialized eye care doctors.
Nurses and optometrists use the tool to assist in initial patient screening and assessment.
The technology aims to integrate deeper with national non-communicable disease screening frameworks.

The team plans deeper integration with national non-communicable disease screening frameworks.
This expansion will occur under the guidance of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.