The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur and the Indian Council of Medical Research–National Institute of Health Research (ICMR–NIHR), Jodhpur, launched a Centre for Collaborative Research (CCR) — also described as a Collaborative Centre of Excellence — on 5 November 2026 to develop indigenous Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) point-of-care diagnostic devices and an Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)–compliant digital health platform for primary healthcare in rural Rajasthan. The launch was hosted at ICMR–NIHR Jodhpur and announced on the institute’s official site.

ICMR–NIHR Jodhpur was redesignated as a National Institute of Health Research on 29 April 2026; it was formerly the National Institute for Implementation Research on Non-Communicable Diseases (NIIRNCD) and earlier the Desert Medicine Research Centre. Programme details appear on the ICMR–NIHR Jodhpur website. The collaboration sits within India’s push to deepen ABDM-linked care at the last mile — a theme eHealth has tracked in eSanjeevani’s 50-crore teleconsultations through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.

What the Collaborative Centre will build

Partners plan ten AI-based diagnostic device prototypes. Reported use cases include electrocardiogram (ECG), blood pressure, haemoglobin, blood sugar, HbA1c and white blood cell (WBC) testing. Five to six devices are intended for rural field deployment, where laboratory and specialist access remains uneven. The aim is portable, indigenous point-of-care tools that support screening and follow-up closer to where people live.

The devices will connect to an ABDM-compliant digital health platform, work offline, and sync reports when connectivity returns — a practical need for many primary-care sites in rural Rajasthan. Standards and partner guidance remain on the official ABDM portal. Related rural and AI-enabled care models covered by eHealth include CureBay’s AI-supported rural healthcare expansion and Forus Health’s FH EyePal portable eye clinic.

How AI supports — not replaces — clinical decisions

AI will assist doctors with investigation and treatment guidance; final clinical decisions remain with treating doctors. That clinician-in-the-loop design mirrors other public digital-health programmes that use AI to reduce paperwork or flag options while keeping accountability with the physician — a balance also emphasised in eHealth reporting on the SAHI AI healthcare roadmap.

Who spoke at the launch

Reports name Prof. (Dr.) Pankaj Bhardwaj, Director, ICMR–NIHR; Prof. Avinash Kumar Agarwal, Director, IIT Jodhpur; Dr. Sumit Kalra, Associate Professor, IIT Jodhpur; and Dr. Ramesh Kumar Hudda, Scientist-D, ICMR–NIHR, among attendees and speakers. The venue banner carried the full title: Collaborative Centre of Excellence for the Development of Indigenous AIOT Point of Care Diagnostics and an ABDM-Compliant Digital Health Platform to Strengthen Primary Healthcare Delivery in Rural Rajasthan. Local coverage of the device roadmap also appeared in Dainik Bhaskar (Jodhpur).

The CCR adds an engineering–public-health bridge as States digitise last-mile delivery — illustrated by eHealth’s report on Jharkhand’s AI medicine-tracking portal.

Key takeaways

• On 5 November 2026, IIT Jodhpur and ICMR–NIHR Jodhpur launched a Centre for Collaborative Research / Collaborative Centre of Excellence for indigenous AIoT point-of-care diagnostics and an ABDM-compliant digital health platform for rural Rajasthan.
• Partners plan ten AI-based diagnostic prototypes (including ECG, blood pressure, haemoglobin, blood sugar, HbA1c and WBC); five to six are intended for rural field use, with offline operation and sync when connectivity returns.
• AI will assist investigation and treatment guidance; final clinical decisions stay with doctors. Speakers named include Prof. Pankaj Bhardwaj, Prof. Avinash Kumar Agarwal, Dr. Sumit Kalra and Dr. Ramesh Kumar Hudda.

FAQ

What did IIT Jodhpur and ICMR–NIHR launch on 5 November 2026?

A Centre for Collaborative Research (CCR) / Collaborative Centre of Excellence to develop indigenous AIoT point-of-care diagnostic devices and an ABDM-compliant digital health platform for primary healthcare in rural Rajasthan.

Which diagnostic devices are planned?

Ten AI-based prototypes are planned, covering parameters such as ECG, blood pressure, haemoglobin, blood sugar, HbA1c and WBC; five to six are intended for rural field deployment.

How will the devices work with ABDM offline?

Devices will link to an ABDM-compliant platform, operate offline where needed, and sync reports when internet is available. AI assists doctors; final clinical decisions remain with clinicians.

Featured image: Officials of IIT Jodhpur and ICMR–NIHR with CCR banners at the Collaborative Centre launch, National Institute of Health Research, Jodhpur, 5 November 2026. Photo: ICMR–NIHR Jodhpur (https://nihrjodhpur.icmr.org.in/)

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