College students design portable digital lab, electronic pill

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.