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Cross Industry Research

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Cross Industry AHERF spearheads mobile phone platform for checking drug-drug interactions, for providing Primary Health Care to the rural and remote areas of India, and facilitates the data collection for Face Recognition after Plastic Surgery.


Our Partners

  • Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
  • Mann India Technologies
  • Health Net Global
  • Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi.
 
Focus Areas
 

1. Use of Mobile phones for providing Primary Health Care :

 

Objective:To study the effect of an alternative model of service delivery in an urban area using mobile phone as a tool. The effects will be observed under the following heads
 
  • Utilization of services
  • Quality of care
  • Referrals to the designated hospital
 
The study plan will be based on a ‘Mobile Based Regionalized Service Delivery (MRSD)’ model. The data will be collected on a “before and after approach”, i.e. before technology intervention and after technology intervention.One part of the study is conducted before the technology is introduced. This would mainly focus on the- strength of the population of the slum area, the economic status of the people, their major source of earnings, literacy levels, and status of the primary health care, the medical facilities available, demand from health care systems, and the open mindedness towards technology. And, the second phase of the study will be after the technology is introduced in the slum.
 
Technical insight: The technology to make the service available on a mobile handset and to connect this to a doctor situated at a little distance has already been selected.
 
Current Status: The project proposal has been submitted to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for funding. Response is awaited.
 

SurveySite Survey Details: An urban slum, ‘Brar Square’ in the Delhi Cantonment has been identified. A preliminary survey was conducted for a period of one month. Both the PI and CO-I have been involved in this survey. Many observations were made on the ‘before – after’ study model- Currently there are few medical facilities are available in the vicinity, like the army hospital, small clinics etc.The people who are below the poverty line are entitled to the Rashtriya Bima Yojna Card, provided by the Govt. of Delhi. This card gives a cover of Rs.30,000 to the patient.An NGO supplies basic medicines free of cost on weekly basis.The Pradhaan along with two other health workers identified from within the slum, have helped in collection of data and to bring about awareness for the program that we intend to begin.

 
Survey Survey
   

Results from Survey

 
 
 

2. Information on Drug –Drug Interactions through Mobile Phones

 

Objective:

  • The idea of making this service available to the people was coined with the following aims in focus.
  • Since with appropriate dosage adjustments or modification of the administration schedule, the negative effects of most interactions can be avoided.
  • To provide readily available instant service to the doctors on drug-drug interactions.
 

Project Plan

 
 

% of Safety Alert due to Drug Interactions

 
 

Distinct Features

 

~ 3370 generic drug interactions excluding topical preparations
~ 27000 brands

 
Rating Outcome
Severe The effects are potentially life threatening or capable of causing permanent damage.
Moderate The effects may cause deterioration in a patients clinical status.
Mild Consequences may be bothersome or unnoticable but should not significantly affect the therapeutic outcome.
No Interaction -

 

 

3. Face Recognition after Plastic Surgery

 
Objective
 
To automatically match two images of one face; before and after corrective/plastic surgery
Useful for security and surveillance applications.
According to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital: there has been 150% increase in cosmetic procedures in the last 5years, while usage of Botox has increased more than 2400% since 1997.
 
Project Plan
 
Collect visible spectrum and thermal face images before and after plastic surgery.
Study the effect of plastic surgery on face recognition algorithms.
Design a face recognition system to recognize face images before and after surgery.
Current Status: The project is ongoing at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. Samples collection is going on successfully.
 
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