South Asia’s first AI-powered cancer detecting mechanism in SL

By Divya Thotawatte 

Ophtascan, an affordable and accessible AI-powered technology that could detect internal cancers in individuals with a 97% accuracy rate, was launched in Sri Lanka recently as the first such mechanism in South Asia. 

The Ophtascan technology uses a mere photograph of a patient’s iris to do an analysis that could diagnose internal cancers including lung, prostate, breast, uterine and cervical cancers. It is a first-of-its-kind real-time screening solution that has been tested by clinical trials and therefore has gained the approval and accreditation from the European Union.

The software was developed by medical technology innovator Onchotech Nordic AB due to the escalating rates of cancer in the world. The World Health Organisation and other leading organisations have stressed on the significance of early detection of cancer which is one of the most effective strategies in battling the illness.

Ophtascan Director Jeevan Gnanam said that Ophtascan was one of the most effective early detection mechanisms of cancer that was also affordable and accessible. 

He further added that the technology was non-invasive unlike most cancer-detecting software. He said, “The invasive and often discomforting nature of prevalent diagnostic procedures stand to pose significant challenges. Our technology harnesses the power of AI to detect various forms of cancer non-invasively.”

Onchotech CCO and DiaPearl CEO Bren Sambunathan explained that the effectiveness of the technology was extremely high where the science behind Ophtascan software was based on iridology, an ancient medicinal technique that examined the colours, patterns, etc. of the iris to determine the health of a patient. 

“We took this ancient science of iridology and combined it with artificial intelligence to create Ophtascan. Therefore, it is a non-invasive multi-faceted cancer detecting mechanism that could detect pre-cancerous and multiple organ cancer types simultaneously.” 

Sambunathan also added that one scan or screening was enough to detect multiple and different pre-cancer and cancer types present in the patient. 

Oncotech CEO Andre Rafnsson also explained that the software was developed through a lot of examinations and data-collection where due to its algorithms it could now accurately detect all four stages of cancer and also the lifestyle systems and improvements needed for the patients. 

Ophtascan is live in four European countries as well as parts of Africa. The solution is also GDPR compliant, ensuring the integrity of data and robust measures which makes it impervious to breaches. At present, Ophtascan is live in Sri Lanka, striving to democratise this transformative technology within Sri Lanka with the help of its government.  

Pix by 

Ruwan Walpola