Delhi Tackles Anemia with Painless Tech

Delhi is set to launch a pioneering non-invasive anemia screening project to gauge the condition's prevalence across various age groups. This initiative will also evaluate the cost-effectiveness and overall utility of the new technology, which employs optical spectroscopy and AI algorithms. The aim is to overcome the limitations of traditional invasive testing methods.

Utilizing light shone through a fingertip, this rapid screening process provides results in approximately sixty seconds via a smartphone interface. The Indian Council of Medical Research has validated the device's accuracy, which is reportedly around 93%. This advancement promises enhanced comfort and greater acceptability for mass screening.

Screening is slated to commence next month at schools and health centers, testing children, adolescents, and adults. This mirrors a similar pilot conducted in Odisha. The government is currently in the procurement stage for these devices, with specific budget allocations and purchase orders still pending.