Monday 17 / March / 2025
Muscat: The Ministry of Health on Monday launched a project for Diabetic Retinopathy Screening using artificial intelligence (AI). The project will help diminish the risk of vision loss and provide timely treatment to diabetic retinopathy patients. The national project targets all individuals diagnosed with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
The launch ceremony was held under the auspices of Eng. Said Hamoud Al Ma’awali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.
In his speech, Dr. Said Harib Al Lamki, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Health Affairs, emphasised that this national programme is committed to achieving a qualitative shift in the healthcare system by adopting the latest technologies and best international practices.
The project seeks to accommodate a larger number of patients for rapid examinations, reduce waiting times at eye clinics, and expand the scope of early detection services across various healthcare institutions, he said.
He stated that this programme is expected to bring about a qualitative shift in improving the quality of life for diabetic patients in the Sultanate of Oman, as it contributes to reducing the risk of vision loss through early detection of diabetic retinopathy and providing timely treatment.
He added that 25 healthcare facilities have been equipped with retinal imaging devices, to facilitate patients' access to this innovative service. The project will contribute economically to reducing healthcare costs associated with treating advanced cases.
The project's importance lies in its ability to address the major challenges facing diabetic patients in the Sultanate of Oman. Retinopathy is a serious complication that can lead to blindness. Statistics indicate that 15 percent of the adult population in the Sultanate of Oman suffers from diabetes, meaning a significant proportion of them are at risk of developing retinopathy.
The project aims to establish a national framework for early detection and management of diabetic retinopathy, reduce vision loss and blindness caused by it, and improve access to high-quality eye care for diabetic patients.
The project targets all individuals diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and the frequency of screening is determined based on the severity of diabetic retinopathy.
The project facilitates early detection by providing retinal imaging devices in 25 healthcare facilities in the first phase. It relies on developing artificial intelligence systems and analysing medical images using machine learning and computer vision. Artificial intelligence is trained on hundreds of thousands of retinal images, learning the difference between a healthy retina and one that exhibits diabetic impairment.
Special retinal imaging devices, such as retinal cameras, will be used. The technology examines the captured image in high resolution to analyse every minute detail, detecting any changes in blood vessels or the appearance of small spots (indicators of retinal disease). The system immediately alerts the doctor.
In the future, the project's organisers aim to expand to include additional health complexes and centers, add new screening programs such as glaucoma and keratoconus screening, enhance virtual medicine projects and connect other devices to reduce the burden on specialist clinics, establish observation clinics run by trained opticians supported by modern technologies and artificial intelligence tools, and develop a local artificial intelligence engine trained on images from the Sultanate of Oman, thus strengthening its global position in health innovation.
The project to employ artificial intelligence for early detection of diabetic retinopathy represents a qualitative leap in the field of ophthalmology and healthcare in general. This approach reflects the Sultanate of Oman's ambitious vision for healthcare, thanks to the Ministry of Health's ongoing efforts and its adoption of the latest technologies, ensuring a healthier life for citizens.
It's worth noting that the Sultanate of Oman is the third country worldwide to implement this project, confirming its commitment to advancing technical and digital advancements, adopting the latest technologies, and employing artificial intelligence to enhance and improve diagnostic accuracy, saving time and costs, and detecting diabetic retinopathy in patients. This contributes to building a society where a culture of health is firmly rooted, and everyone is responsible, protected from health risks and threats.
