KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 9): Nova MSC Bhd (KL:NOVAMSC), which provides software for the healthcare sector, has secured a contract to roll out the National Diabetic Retinopathy (NDR) screening programme in Brunei.

The group said its subsidiary EyRIS Pte Ltd was awarded the RM7.13 million contract by JPMCnova Sdn Bhd. The programme will run for five years, starting on Oct 1.

“This programme will cover all hospitals and healthcare centres, utilising our cloud-based Selena+ and EyScan teleophthalmology platform for efficient screening and monitoring,” Nova MSC said in a statement to the stock exchange.

Selena+, an automated deep-learning system developed in collaboration with the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) and the NUS School of Computing, offers a solution for the early detection of diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration through the analysis of colour retinal images.

Selena+ has secured regulatory approvals in the European Union and countries such as Australia, Brazil, Thailand and Indonesia, besides Malaysia.

“With DR (diabetic retinopathy) being the number one cause of vision impairment, a systematic approach to early detection of DR is crucial to ensure early treatment and prevent vision loss,” said Nova MSC.

Beyond DR, EyRIS can also expand artificial intelligence (AI) offerings to detect systemic diseases such as chronic kidney disease, neurological disorders and cardiovascular conditions.

"This aligns with Nova MSC’s vision of addressing global healthcare challenges with wider access to solutions that promise to be cheaper, faster and more accurate," it added.

Shares of Nova MSC closed unchanged at 15.5 sen on Monday, giving the group a market capitalisation of RM199.38 million.