AI-Powered Healthcare Innovations Shine at DNA Hack for Health in Chattogram
Young innovators from across Bangladesh showcased cutting-edge artificial intelligence solutions for healthcare at the “DNA Hack for Health” hackathon held on May 9 at Chattogram Medical College, highlighting the growing intersection of medicine and technology in the country.
The Chattogram round of the competition crowned team “Hemo Hackers” from Chattogram Medical College as champion for developing an AI-powered solution capable of estimating blood hemoglobin levels through finger video analysis.
First runner-up was team “Rhetoric Minds” from Chattogram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital Medical College, which developed a QR-based health identity system allowing emergency patient information to be stored and accessed even without internet connectivity.
The second runner-up was team “Arekta Team” from Bangladesh Army International University of Science and Technology (BAIUST), which introduced an AI-driven rehabilitation platform designed to monitor gait patterns of stroke and Parkinson’s disease patients.
The three winning teams from Chattogram will advance to the national grand finale in Dhaka, where they will compete alongside winners from the Sylhet round of the hackathon.
In the Sylhet phase, champion team “NeuroNurture” gained recognition for developing an AI-based solution for autism treatment and support. Runner-up “Team Star” presented a virtual reality (VR)-based platform aimed at training radiologists at the primary level, while second runner-up “MediLink” developed a live logistics application designed to ensure the availability of ICU beds and emergency medicines in critical situations.
Speaking at the event, S M O Nawed, founder of DNA Health Communication, said the initiative aims to bridge the gap between clinical expertise and technology.
“The world-class AI solutions presented by young innovators in Chattogram prove that the future of Bangladesh’s healthcare sector is extremely promising. We are not just organizing a hackathon; we are building an ecosystem where technology and human-centered innovation can deliver smart and affordable healthcare services across the country,” he said.
Mohammad Jashim Uddin emphasized the importance of innovation-driven medical education, saying that future healthcare professionals must develop not only clinical skills but also technological and entrepreneurial capabilities.
The event was attended by Md. Abdur Rab as guest of honor.
A plenary session featured discussions by healthcare and technology experts including Sumit Majumdar, Tarek Shams, Md. Abdus Sattar, Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Rivu Raj Chakraborty and Mohammad Masud Karim.
Speakers at the session stressed the need to integrate data science into medical education curricula and establish a stronger regulatory framework for the application of AI in healthcare services.
Prime Bank joined the event as a banking partner and expressed its commitment to supporting innovation-driven healthcare initiatives in Bangladesh.
According to the organizers, the Chattogram edition of the hackathon demonstrated that transformative changes in healthcare can emerge not only from policymakers but also from young innovators working at the grassroots level. DNA Health Communication also announced plans to expand the hackathon to medical colleges in every division of the country this year.
DBTech/SA/EK
