NIT's Deputy Director Pławiak on challenges for ophthalmology
29.06.2023
Dr. Eng. Paweł Pławiak, Deputy Director of the Institute of Communications - PIB (Poznan University of Technology), responsible for scientific affairs, took part in a debate on the challenges facing Polish ophthalmology. The expert discussion was organized by "Puls Medycyny" (Pulse of Medicine) magazine.
The debate, part of the series "Organizational, Diagnostic, and Therapeutic Challenges in Ophthalmology," also included Maciej Miłkowski, Deputy Minister of Health, Prof. Robert Rejdak, Head of the Department and Clinic of General and Pediatric Ophthalmology, as well as the Vice-Rector for Internationalization and Digitization of the Medical University of Lublin, and Prof. Marek Rękas, Head of the Ophthalmology Clinic and Deputy Director for Scientific Affairs of the Military Institute of Medicine, national consultant in the field of ophthalmology.
Director Pławiak spoke about the role of telemedicine in ophthalmology using the example of the Okobus project, implemented by the National Institute of Telecommunications in collaboration with the Medical University of Lublin (UML).
The National Institute of Telecommunications, supervised by the Ministry of Digital Affairs, has been collaborating with the Ministry of Health for several years to develop telemedical solutions. Together with UML, we are implementing numerous projects at the intersection of medicine, telecommunications, and informatics. Projects like Okobus enable the delivery of highly specialized eye examinations to locations where ophthalmologists are lacking. Furthermore, the development of machine learning algorithms based on deep neural networks will undoubtedly support diagnostics in the field of ophthalmology in the future, thereby increasing its accessibility to the entire patient population.
he explained.
Okobus is a mobile point for ophthalmic diagnostics equipped with modern equipment. It is used in a pilot program for screening examinations that detect eye diseases in patients with diabetes. The diagnostics are conducted in various locations within the Lublin Voivodeship.
The National Institute of Telecommunications is responsible for preparing the diagnostic vehicle and equipping it, including mobile communication and data transmission capabilities. It has also selected locations where the examinations will be conducted, considering the best wireless connectivity. Its specialists will also develop a machine learning model and a ready-made artificial intelligence-based solution for ophthalmic diagnostics. More about the project can be found on the website gov.pl/okobus.