Morocco expands AI-powered prenatal ultrasound services in rural health centers

Friday 09 - 10:47

By: Azzat Manal

Morocco expands AI-powered prenatal ultrasound services in rural health centers

Morocco is expanding the use of artificial intelligence in maternal healthcare by introducing AI-assisted prenatal ultrasound technology in additional health centers, with a particular focus on rural communities where access to specialist medical services remains limited.

Following an initial pilot programme involving 10 health centers in the Beni Mellal-Khenifra region, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection plans to equip 40 more facilities with the technology, bringing the total number of participating centers to 50.

The pilot phase involved 416 pregnant women and included training for 27 midwives. According to figures released by the ministry, the system was used to examine more than 16,500 fetal anatomical structures, providing initial experience with AI-supported screening in local healthcare settings.

The initiative aims to reduce the distance pregnant women must travel to receive essential examinations. Before the programme was introduced, some women in rural areas had to travel an average of around 90 kilometers to access an ultrasound scan, reflecting shortages of nearby equipment and specialists in obstetrics and radiology.

The new system allows trained midwives and general practitioners to conduct ultrasound examinations at local health centers, including facilities that do not have permanent access to specialist doctors. The equipment combines a portable ultrasound probe with a digital tablet, where an application guides healthcare professionals through seven standardized scanning procedures.

Once the images have been collected, artificial intelligence analyzes them to help identify key anatomical structures, including the fetal head, heart and spine, as well as the placenta and amniotic fluid. A digital report is then generated for review and approval by a specialist physician, maintaining a role for professional medical oversight.

The system also integrates information collected during routine pregnancy consultations into a centralized digital medical record. This replaces some paper-based documentation and allows healthcare professionals to consult patient information during subsequent visits, potentially improving continuity of care and the monitoring of pregnancies over time.

Initial results reported by the ministry indicate that examination times have fallen significantly, with scans taking approximately half to one-third as long as before. Shorter procedures could allow healthcare teams to examine more patients and reduce waiting times, particularly in facilities serving geographically dispersed communities.

The availability of ultrasound services closer to patients may also help improve decisions about hospital referrals. Healthcare professionals can use the examinations to identify pregnancies that require specialist assessment while allowing suitable cases to continue receiving routine monitoring locally. This could reduce unnecessary travel for families and ease pressure on hospitals, although the effectiveness of the approach will depend on referral procedures and access to further medical care.

AI-assisted screening may also help clinicians identify warning signs associated with pregnancy complications, including possible pre-eclampsia-related risks, abnormalities in amniotic fluid and irregular fetal heart rhythms. Such findings require appropriate clinical assessment, and the technology is intended to support healthcare professionals rather than replace specialist diagnosis.

Some serious fetal abnormalities may also be detectable during early pregnancy screening. Earlier identification can help healthcare teams arrange further examinations and provide families with timely medical information and appropriate support.

The ministry says the 27 trained midwives have incorporated the technology into their daily work, with early feedback indicating that it can be integrated into routine consultations. The planned expansion will make Beni Mellal-Khenifra the first region in Morocco to extend the programme to 50 health centers.

In the longer term, the government intends to expand the initiative gradually to other regions. Its success will depend on continued staff training, equipment maintenance, reliable specialist review and effective referral pathways for women who need additional care.

The programme reflects Morocco’s wider efforts to use digital technologies to reduce disparities in healthcare access. By bringing prenatal screening closer to rural communities, authorities aim to improve maternal monitoring and ensure that distance and limited local resources are less likely to prevent pregnant women from receiving timely examinations.