Pune: Periwinkle Technologies, a Pune-based healthcare innovation company, has announced that its flagship AI-powered cervical cancer screening device, Smart Scope CX, has been selected as a finalist in the 2025 Solve MIT Global Health Challenge.
This prestigious global platform, hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), recognizes breakthrough solutions tackling the world’s most pressing health problems through scalable technology.
About Smart Scope CX
Developed by Periwinkle Technologies, co-founded by CEO Veena Moktali and Koustubh Naik, Smart Scope CX is a USFDA- and CDSCO-approved, AI-driven, transvaginal handheld device designed for early detection of cervical cancer in low-resource and underserved settings.
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It empowers nurses and frontline health workers to conduct single-visit, real-time cervical screening with 90% accuracy and delivers results within 30 seconds – dramatically reducing the need for follow-ups and improving patient outcomes.
Key features of the Smart Scope CX solution include:
- AI-powered imaging based on colposcopy principles
- Offline functionality with built-in tablet integration
- Instant risk stratification reports and printable results
- Telehealth connectivity for expert consultations if needed
- Battery-powered portability, eliminating the need for mains electricity
Aligned with the WHO’s 2030 target to screen 70% of eligible women, Smart Scope CX enables last-mile healthcare delivery with a powerful combination of technology and accessibility.
Addressing a Global Health Crisis
Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women globally, claiming approximately 300,000 lives every year.
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Over 80% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where access to screening is limited due to expert dependency, infrastructure challenges, and lack of awareness.
India alone accounts for 21% of global cervical cancer deaths. Women in rural and remote areas face additional barriers—often ten times less likely to receive timely screening. Smart Scope CX tackles this crisis by providing an easy-to-use, portable screening solution that enables frontline workers like ASHAs and ANMs to serve communities effectively without electricity or internet.
Global Impact and Reach
To date, Smart Scope CX has screened over 350,000 women across five countries, with more than 450 installations in primary healthcare settings. It has six registered patents and has previously won the 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize for its contribution to health innovation.
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The device serves women aged 25 to 60, especially in underserved areas, while also equipping frontline health workers with tools and training to deliver impactful care. By digitizing cervical exams, Smart Scope CX creates a ripple effect—strengthening public health systems, reducing economic burden, and fostering early diagnosis.
MIT Solve 2025 Recognition
Being shortlisted by Solve MIT’s Global Health Challenge is a significant recognition of Smart Scope CX’s scalable, real-world impact. The challenge spotlights technologies that improve healthcare access, support resilient health systems, and ensure ethical use of AI in diagnostics.
