New Delhi, May 6: A portable digital lab capable of testing blood and urine samples, which aid diagnosis and treatment of critical ailments such as diabetes and renal damage, has been developed by a team of college students from Faridabad.
‘Swasthya Sanjivini' the lab devised by six students of Manav Rachna College of Engineering aims to address the problem of inaccessibility to technological advancements and health care schemes still prevailing in certain parts of the country.
“We conducted a survey in 23 different villages and the results that came out were shocking . The severe problems faced by these people were lack of health care facilities followed by poverty and education,” says Hardik Garg, who is leading the team of six students who call themselves the “Path Finders.”
A pilot test of the model was done recently in Kolari Village of Faridabad where a few doctors were connected to the students and made available through video conferencing. Test results obtained through the digital lab were shared instantly and further advice was given by the doctor as per requirements.
“Our direct beneficiaries are - patients of diabetes, anemia, jaundice and renal damage, habitats of unapproachable areas, below poverty level people, unemployed basic digital literate people, the diagnostic centers and hospitals of heavily populated areas. This system is cheaper and quicker than government and non-government hospitals for blood and urine test,” says Deepika Verma, Team member of ‘Path Finders'.
The model is now taken up by three NGOs - Rotary Club, Saur Urja and Sewa Viklang Kendra, Navjyoti - to be implemented in Rajasthan.
“Through this model, the beneficiaries can get timely advice or even first-aid. Patients need not travel to hospitals for basic tests and can submit their samples and get results without having to travel to towns or cities,” says Hemant Goyal a representative of Saur Urja. The students have also designed an Electronic Pill Box.
Comprising of small slots for different, the box connected to a PC or laptop or a tablet through USB and installed software allows the operator to easily customize the device to their specific medication regiments and dosage times.
The medication information stored in the memory of the pill box can initiate audio visual reminders to remind the patients about different medicines that they have to take and their next scheduled appointment with the doctor.
“The pill box can prove to be a great help for poor illiterate people as they are unable to read to the name of the medicine and often forget or neglect the medicines that they have to take. This pill box is designed in order to help patients to take right dose at the right time,” says Garg ‘Path Finder' developed this project to compete in Microsoft Imagine Cup and won the competition.
The winning team of ‘Path Finders', are scheduled to represent India at the global finals to be held at St Petersburg, Russia.
“This model has the potential to bloom into start ups,” says Bhaskar Pramanik, Chairman, Microsoft Corporation (India) Private Ltd. Team ‘Path Finders' has also filed for patent rights for their project.
The winning team was amongst 10 other finalists that made it to the annual competition conducted by Microsoft to identify and support promising young social innovators who dedicate themselves to solving the world's most pressing problems with their .ideas.
In future the students plan to implement this project on a large scale and intend to seek government's support and intervention for reaching out to as many people covering regions where access to health care has been a problem.
“This portable lab can produce more than 20 results of blood or urine per hour accurately in minimum time and cost resulting in a healthier planet. We will begin with 2 centers in Uttar Pradesh and because of economical testing the load in these centers will increase in first year. Within 3 years we will expand to state level and in 5 years this project will serve 12 states having most severe health problems. In 10-12 years this project would be running successfully for the country,” says Verma.
